Boise State jumped ahead of BYU in the third 2024 College Football Playoff rankings.
The Broncos moved up to No. 12 and the Cougars fell eight spots to No. 14 after losing to Kansas on Saturday night. Because Boise State faces BYU, the Broncos are the preliminary No. 4 seed in the playoffs with two weeks left in the regular season.
Remember, the top four conference champions get first-round byes into the playoffs, while Nos. 5 through 12 play in the first round. Five conference champions are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. BYU is the highest-ranked Big 12 team in the latest top 25 and is five spots ahead of Army, the top AAC team in the rankings.
BYU has a very good chance to bounce back over the Broncos in Week 13. The Cougars visit No. 18 Arizona State in one of two huge Big 12 games on the penultimate weekend. If BYU wins convincingly, it’s very easy to see the committee putting them ahead of Boise State. After all, the committee moved BYU up three spots a week ago after a field goal with three seconds left gave the Cougars a 22-21 victory over Utah.
Aside from the BYU-Boise State trade, the only significant move into the top twelve came at the expense of Tennessee. Georgia returned to its expected run after a 31-17 win over the Vols in Week 12. Tennessee is ranked No. 11 in the rankings and is the first team currently out of the College Football Playoff.
Two more sets of rankings will be revealed before the official and final rankings on Sunday, December 8.
Goodbye to the first round
1. Oregon
2.Texas
3. Miami
4. Boise State
While Boise State leads BYU in the rankings, Miami moved up from No. 4 to No. 3. However, the Hurricanes were passed by an 8-2 Alabama team in the top 25.
First round matchups
No. 12 BYU at No. 5 Ohio State
No. 11 Georgia at No. 6 Penn State
No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 7 Indiana
No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Notre Dame
Once again, the Big Ten will host three first-round games. At least now. That will likely change next week after Indiana’s visit to Ohio State on Saturday. Oregon has clinched a spot in the Big Ten championship game, and the winner of Saturday’s top-five matchup will have a significant lead in the race to join the Ducks in Indianapolis.
Alabama leads the SEC contingent of marquee teams as it earned a win over Georgia. Ole Miss, who defeated Georgia in Week 11, is one spot ahead of the Bulldogs. Tennessee is off the field despite a win over Alabama. If there is a six-team tie atop the SEC at 6-2, the committee’s rankings behind the team that wins the SEC title game will be fascinating.
Top 25
1. Oregon (11-0)
2. Ohio State (9-1)
3. Texas (9-1)
4. Penn State (9-1)
5. Indiana (10-0)
6. Notre Dame (9-1)
7. Alabama (8-2)
8. Miami (9-1)
9. Ole Miss (8-2)
10. Georgia (8-2)
11. Tennessee (8-2)
12. Boise State (9-1)
13. SMU (9-1)
14. BYU (9-1)
15. Texas A&M (8-2)
16. Colorado (8-2)
17. Clemson (8-2)
18. South Carolina (7-3)
19. Army (9-0)
20. Tulane (9-2)
21. Arizona State (8-2)
22. Iowa State (8-2)
23. Missouri (7-3)
24. UNLV (8-2)
25. Illinois (7-3)
