On the same day millions of Americans cast their ballot, BYU found its place in the polls.
The Cougars checked in at No. 9 when the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season were released Tuesday.
BYU, sitting at 8-0, is threatening to make its first playoff appearance in program history.
The Cougars were projected as Big 12 champs and the No. 4 seed in the playoff. All that means is if the Cougars win the Big 12 Conference, they would have a first-round bye and a spot in a New Year’s Six Bowl Game for the quarterfinals.
The Big 12 champion is likely to be slotted in the Fiesta Bowl, which takes place on New Year’s Eve.
No other Big 12 teams were projected in the 12-team on Tuesday.
The Cougars' resume includes a win over then-No. 13 Kansas State and a road win at SMU, the No. 13 team in Tuesday’s CFP rankings.
BYU finishes its regular season with Utah, Kansas, Arizona State and Houston. It is favored to win out and currently has a one-game lead atop the Big 12 standings.
CFP Rankings
Oregon
Ohio State
Georgia
Miami
Texas
Penn State
Tennessee
Indiana
BYU
Notre Dame
Alabama
Boise State
![(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dusty Hulet and Kristen Jex in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. Jex says dating a fellow Latter-day Saint has been a godsend. “Spirituality is such a value of mine,” she says, “that I have chosen to stay in [the faith] at any cost.”](https://www.sltrib.com/resizer/v2/3GLYHMSN4NB4LKRABRKEY23PJI.jpg?auth=8c6f8c986152c196a47275ed81a877f6612b21e97df50a9be11c99a42ff795de&width=111&quality=88)
