BYU’s perfect season was spoiled in Week 12 and their College Football Playoff fate now hangs in the balance. After a 17-13 loss to Kansas, the Cougars’ November 23 matchup with Arizona State is now a CFP eliminator.
Once one of the top stories in the sport, BYU now faces the possibility of their first losing streak all season ending their title hopes at the most inopportune of times.
“We’ve got ourselves a CFP elimination game next week in Tempe when BYU visits ASU. A sentence never before written,” The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel.
Kalani Sitake took a measured and even inspirational tone during the postgame press conference, complimenting his Cougars’ effort and giving the Jayhawks their due.
“Well, obviously disappointing result, but a lot of credit to Kansas. They had a really good game plan. And looking at the stats, just didn’t really make enough plays and made way too many mistakes for us to come up with the victory,” Sitake said in the early hours of November 17 (h/t ESPN 960’s Benjamin Criddle).
“We have a lot more to play for. This is not the end.”
BYU could still make the College Football Playoff with a Cougars Big 12 Championship win
The Big 12 Championship is still a direct path for the Cougars into the College Football Playoff. Colorado would likely be on the schedule if Kansas doesn’t strike again next week and/or Oklahoma State upsets the Buffs in Week 14.
Of course, the alternative is suddenly the sickening feeling Provo, Utah must collectively feel right now after such a downer of a loss against a six-loss team.
