In a season packed with wild swings and late-game drama, the BYU Cougars have landed smack in the middle of a heated debate about their place in the College Football Playoff (CFP). With an 11-2 record, the Cougars have impressed plenty of folks, but their two losses to Texas Tech have stirred up questions about whether they really belong in the playoff conversation.
Former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III has jumped in, passionately supporting BYU’s case. He points out their strong season and argues the quality of their losses matters. Let’s look at the arguments swirling around BYU’s playoff hopes and what it all means for college football as a whole.
BYU’s Season in Review
The Cougars kicked off the season with high expectations and, for the most part, delivered. They wrapped things up at 11-2, notching big wins and taking a couple of tough losses along the way.
The real sticking point? Both defeats came at the hands of Texas Tech, who currently sit at No. 4 in the nation. That’s been the lightning rod for all the debate.
Key Wins and Losses
BYU pulled off victories over No. 15 Utah and No. 18 Arizona. Those wins showed they can hold their own against ranked teams.
But then there are the two losses to Texas Tech, including a rough 34-7 defeat in the Big 12 championship game. Those games are at the center of the CFP eligibility debate.
Robert Griffin III’s Stance
Griffin, now a Fox Sports college football analyst, hasn’t been shy about backing BYU. He says the Cougars’ two losses to a top-4 team shouldn’t overshadow what they’ve accomplished.
He’s especially adamant that 11-win teams shouldn’t get dinged just for losing in the conference championship game.
Griffin’s Key Points
- Quality of Losses: Losing to a powerhouse like Texas Tech shouldn’t count too heavily against BYU.
- Overall Record: An 11-2 record speaks to their consistency and grit.
- Conference Championship Impact: Teams shouldn’t be knocked down for making it to the conference championship and coming up short.
Honestly, Griffin’s points seem to resonate with a lot of folks who think the selection process needs to weigh the quality of losses and the toughness of a team’s schedule.
The Broader Debate
This whole BYU situation is just a slice of a bigger conversation about how playoff teams get picked. Some critics say BYU’s blowout losses to Texas Tech show they might not be ready to hang with the nation’s best.
Supporters, though, argue that BYU’s wins over ranked teams should count for more. It’s a tug-of-war between what matters most: big wins or ugly losses?
Comparisons to Other Teams
It gets even trickier when you stack BYU up against other playoff hopefuls. Teams like Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and Oregon finished regular seasons without risking an extra loss in a conference title game.
That’s led some to say BYU is getting a raw deal for even playing in the Big 12 championship.
- Texas A&M: Wrapped up at 11-1 and skipped the conference title game.
- Ole Miss: Also finished 11-1, dodging that extra risk.
- Oklahoma: Closed out 10-2, no additional game on the schedule.
Honestly, it’s a mess. The comparisons just make the CFP selection process look even more complicated and, maybe, a little unfair at times.
Coach Kalani Sitake’s Perspective
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake isn’t holding back either. He’s made it clear he thinks his team deserves a shot at the CFP.
Sitake points out they’ve faced the best team in the country twice, and he believes that should count for something.
Coach Sitake’s Key Arguments
- Strength of Schedule: BYU’s schedule was packed with ranked opponents, showing they’re not afraid of tough competition.
- Desire for Redemption: Sitake has even said he’d love another crack at Texas Tech, highlighting the team’s determination.
His take adds another wrinkle to the debate, pushing for context around a team’s losses and their fight all season long.
Implications for the College Football Playoff
This whole debate over BYU’s spot in the CFP is shining a spotlight on how teams are judged and what really matters in the selection process. It’s raising questions that aren’t easy to answer.
How do you balance fairness and reward teams for taking big swings? It’s tough, and the controversy isn’t going away anytime soon.
Potential Changes to the CFP Selection Process
Will this BYU situation spark changes in how the CFP picks its teams? Maybe. Some ideas floating around include:
- Quality of Losses: Giving more credit for losing to top-tier teams, not just looking at the number of losses.
- Conference Championship Impact: Rethinking how much a conference title game loss should hurt a team’s chances.
- Overall Strength of Schedule: Putting more weight on playing—and beating—ranked opponents.
It’s hard to say if any of this will actually change things, but the debate isn’t going anywhere. College football fans are going to be talking about this for a while.
Conclusion
The debate about BYU’s CFP eligibility is still going strong. It really highlights just how complicated the selection process can get.
People definitely have different opinions here. But you can’t ignore that BYU’s season has been full of big wins and, yeah, a few rough losses.
Robert Griffin III and Coach Kalani Sitake both make interesting points. They push us to think about more than just the scoreboard—context matters.
If you’re curious for more, the full story’s up at Robert Griffin III’s stance on BYU’s CFP chances.
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