The first edition of the College Football Playoff rankings arrived this week, and that arrival reminded everybody of a fistful of things, not the least of which is that BYU, while now competing in the Big 12, is still sitting in the shadow of a kind of second-class status, at least among those designated to evaluate and rank top teams. A couple of other things:
1) Rankings in college football have always been a matter of opinion, and that’s about it. I love opinion, love a point of view, having expressed mine for a living for numerous decades. But, as I’ve been properly reminded on many occasions, opinion isn’t fact. It might be based on what is thought to be factual and/or useful — statistics, records, logic, common sense. But one committee member’s common sense might be another’s utter nonsense.
2) When opinion, even held by a group of people assigned to study such matters, is counted on to provide or take away opportunity for top college teams to compete for and win championships, to set advantageous or disadvantageous paths for them to do so, it gets complicated, same as it’s always been.
As the initial rankings came out on Tuesday, the first of weekly rankings that will culminate in a final ranking on Dec. 8, a final ranking that will seed and set the format for the 12 teams that make said playoffs, BYU was pegged at No. 9. Not great, not horrible. As mentioned, it’s early yet, and who knows what will transpire over the next month. For that matter, who knows what will happen on Saturday night, when the Cougars face Utah at Rice-Eccles. It’s been said a thousand times, and it’s being said again this week, that when it comes to rivalry games, records can be chucked out the window and kicked into the gutter.
But the rankings indicated that 8-0 BYU is not as highly thought of as eight other teams, some of whom have yet to taste defeat, and some of whom have.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Darius Lassiter (5) reaches for a pass as he is defended by Arizona Wildcats defensive back Jack Luttrell (13) during the game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.
No. 1 Oregon is 9-0, No. 2 Ohio State is 7-1, No. 3 Georgia is 7-1, No. 4 Miami is 9-0, No. 5 Texas is 7-1, No. 6 Penn State and No. 7 Tennessee are 7-1, No. 8 Indiana is 9-0, with BYU at No. 9, 7-1 Notre Dame at No. 10, followed by 6-2 Alabama at No. 11 and 7-1 Boise State at No. 12.
It’s worth noting that BYU slots in as the fourth seed as the projected Big 12 champion, getting a first-round bye. Each of the Power 4 champions are awarded that, with Oregon as the projected Big Ten champ at the top spot, followed by the SEC’s Georgia and the ACC’s Miami.
It’s all projection at this point, but the rankings reveal the selection committee’s early views not just on BYU, but on the entire Big 12, which could be a one-bid league, while other conferences could get four teams in.
The Cougars, at No. 9, have wins over No. 13 SMU (on the road) and (at home) against No. 19 Kansas State. That’s more wins over Top 25 teams, according to CBS Sports, than the four teams ahead of them combined. As noted above, five teams ahead of them have a loss.
The chairman of the 13-member selection committee, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, was asked to explain the gap between Miami and BYU, considering the Cougar’s brace of wins over ranked opponents, whereas Miami only has one such win. His response:
“Well, I think both teams are obviously very good, and when we looked at how Miami has played, particularly their offensive prowess, they were impressive in their win against Louisville, and they really had a dominating show at the beginning of the year against Florida, came back against Cal in a very late-night contest for Miami.
“BYU, as well, is very strong. Impressive wins against SMU and Kansas State in a dominating fashion.”
What Manuel said next, though, is the key to this whole endeavor.
“It really came down to more of an eye test as it related to looking at both teams, and the committee as we ranked them saw them in that fashion, and it came out in that order.”
Shazam.
Eye tests might be good over at the ophthalmologist’s office or for sizing up heifers and awarding blue ribbons down at the County Fair or judging quality of coat composition of entrants at the Westminster Dog Show, but when it comes to ranking college football teams, and providing them opportunity, they might just as plainly give license to personal preferences, revealing at best opinion and at worst bias.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars safety Crew Wakley (7) celebrates an intrerception with Brigham Young Cougars safety Tanner Wall (28) during the game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.
Whatever. It’s far better than the antiquated BCS mess and four-team playoffs of decades gone by. And there’s plenty of time for records and rankings to get rearranged. To reiterate, BYU could lose at Rice-Eccles on Saturday. Or it might be motivated even more to show the committee who and what they really are. But right from jump, the reasoning behind certain judgments by the committee, its vague explanations for that reasoning, is telling.
Understand, I love opinion, especially when possible, when it’s largely based in fact. But even if it is, or could be, it’s still just opinion, a point of view. And that includes this column.
