BYU Still Has a Route to the Big 12 Title Game

BYU’s 28-20 loss to Utah on November 7 left the Cougars with less control over their path to the Big 12 championship game, but they remain in contention. At 4-2 in conference play, they must win their last three games, starting with Baylor at home on November 14, then visiting Kansas before hosting Cincinnati on November 28.

Texas Tech, at 5-1 in the Big 12, also needs to lose at least once in its final three games for BYU to have a chance. The Red Raiders visit Oklahoma State and Baylor before hosting TCU. If BYU and Texas Tech finish tied with two conference losses and are the only teams in that position, BYU could prevail through a comparison of results against common opponents.

Houston is another key team. The Cougars are 4-2 in league play and hold an advantage in most potential tiebreakers involving teams with two conference losses. BYU would benefit if Houston drops another game; Houston’s remaining schedule is at Colorado, at West Virginia and home against Baylor.

Other combinations involving Utah, Arizona and Oklahoma State could create a larger tiebreaker group, with conference schedule strength potentially deciding the outcome. BYU’s clearest route is to win out while Texas Tech and Houston each lose at least once.

A College Football Playoff place remains possible, but BYU’s more direct route would be winning the Big 12 title game, whose champion earns an automatic playoff berth. The Cougars fell five places to No. 12 in the AP poll after the Utah loss, and their playoff prospects will also depend on the committee’s next rankings. Their immediate task is to recover and finish the regular season without another defeat.