The Huge 12 is slowly creeping up on Boise State within the Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings, nevertheless it won’t be sufficient for the ability convention champion to safe a first-round bye.
In latest weeks, the choice committee has made it clear the Huge 12 wants an emphatic, overwhelming champion to leapfrog No. 11 Boise State. It may occur, nevertheless it appears much less seemingly with every passing week.
With 9 groups nonetheless alive for the convention championship heading into the regular-season finale, the Huge 12 is a large number. The 2 highest-ranked groups — No. 16 Arizona State and No. 18 Iowa State — face one other concern that hasn’t gone unnoticed: Is the door open for No. 17 Tulane to win the AAC championship, soar the Huge 12 and doubtlessly push the ability convention out of the 12-team area fully?
It is unlikely, certain, however price monitoring.
The Huge 12 wanted a BYU win at Arizona State final week. As a substitute, the Cougars fell on the street when a Hail Mary move was caught wanting the top zone on the 2-yard line. BYU entered final week at No. 14, simply two spots behind Boise State, however plummeted to No. 19 this week as Arizona State and Iowa State moved up. Kansas State additionally entered the rankings at No. 24.
There’s only one drawback: Kansas State, which beat Tulane in New Orleans earlier this season, is ranked under the Inexperienced Wave. As soon as once more, it is clear the committee doesn’t view the Huge 12 in a positive mild. Huge 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark went on the offensive Monday.
“Based mostly on the place we sit as we speak, I see no rationale for the Huge 12’s champion not getting a first-round bye,” Yormark informed Yahoo Sports activities. “The winner of our championship ought to obtain a bye. I’ve plenty of belief within the choice committee and I am certain they’re going to see it that method. Simply have a look at the info. The information does not lie. From a strength-of-schedule standpoint, all 4 of our faculties on the prime of the standings are ranked forward of Boise State.”
Concerning head-to-head schedules, the Huge 12’s contenders have the higher hand. Boise State’s power of schedule ranks 81st, 15 spots under Arizona State. The Solar Devils and Broncos even have a typical opponent in Wyoming. Arizona State defeated the Cowboys 48-7 in its season opener. Final week, the Broncos struggled to place them away in a 17-13 street win, which included a stretch with out Heisman Trophy hopeful Ashton Jeanty on the sphere.
The Solar Devils additionally personal back-to-back wins towards ranked groups heading into the ultimate week, whereas Boise State has none. America has fallen in love with Ashton Jeanty, however that should not overshadow the Broncos’ weaker résumé.
If two-loss Iowa State or one other lower-ranked workforce like No. 25 Colorado, with three losses, wins the Huge 12 title, what occurs then? A primary-round bye is probably going off the board, however would Tulane soar to the entrance of the pile because the fifth-highest-ranked convention champion? The Inexperienced Wave jumped 4 spots this week regardless of not taking part in, however their power of schedule is far worse than the Huge 12 contenders, coming in at No. 100. Once more, Kansas State stays under Tulane regardless of the head-to-head benefit.
In the meantime, the SEC is within the shadows, wringing its palms and certain devising a marketing campaign to push the committee to contemplate a fourth workforce from the convention. Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina are on the surface, ranked No. 13-15, however the Gamecocks have a possibility to enhance their three-loss résumé with a visit to No. 12 Clemson this week. Alabama owns a head-to-head win towards South Carolina.
Two weeks stay, and for yet one more week, the choice committee will conduct its train of rating the 25 greatest groups. Then comes the one which issues on Choice Sunday — and all bets are off after the fiasco of 2023, when Florida State was controversially dropped from the sphere.
We toil for now, however like a pile of leaves on a windy fall day, the CFP rankings will once more blow away this weekend. And the committee will begin anew after one more unpredictable slate of video games.