BYU currently boasts an impressive record of 8-0 and holds the seventh spot in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Cougars are in a favorable position, controlling their own playoff destiny, a luxury not many teams can claim this late in the season. Despite their strong standing, several matchups across college football in Week 11 could significantly impact BYU”s aspirations, regardless of the outcome of their game against Texas Tech.
This article examines eight game results that would benefit BYU, focusing on contests with single-digit point spreads. While a loss by Ole Miss to an opponent like The Citadel would certainly help BYU, we will concentrate on more realistic scenarios.
Potential Beneficial Outcomes
1. UCF versus Houston: A victory for UCF would serve two essential purposes for BYU. First, it would eliminate Houston from the title race, reducing potential tiebreaker complications. Second, since BYU is scheduled to face UCF later, a win would enhance the strength of BYU”s schedule, which could prove crucial in tiebreaker situations.
2. Arizona versus Kansas: Much like the previous scenario, an Arizona win would benefit BYU. The Cougars have already faced Arizona but will not meet Kansas this season. Additionally, Arizona is quietly having a solid year and is on the cusp of bowl eligibility. A win for Arizona would bolster BYU”s overall resume.
3. Iowa State versus TCU: TCU remains in contention with only two conference losses. If they manage to defeat Iowa State, they could arrive in Provo still harboring hopes for a conference title. Ideally, BYU would prefer to face teams without such aspirations, as they could also face Cincinnati, another title contender.
4. Mississippi State versus No. 5 Georgia: Mississippi State has come close to toppling strong teams this season. With a challenging atmosphere in Starkville, Georgia might stumble, which would be advantageous for BYU.
5. No. 22 Missouri versus No. 3 Texas A&M: Texas A&M is one of the few remaining undefeated teams in college football. An upset by Missouri could allow BYU to rise in the rankings, especially if they secure a victory over Texas Tech.
6. No. 20 Iowa versus No. 9 Oregon: Oregon ranks just below BYU in the standings. If the Cougars find themselves contending for an at-large playoff spot, a loss for the Ducks would lessen their threat to BYU”s chances.
7. Auburn versus No. 16 Vanderbilt: No team from the SEC is out of playoff contention with only two losses. Should Vanderbilt lose their third game, it would be beneficial both for BYU and the Big 12.
8. Wake Forest versus No. 14 Virginia: Virginia stands as the highest-ranked team in the ACC. The more losses the ACC front-runners incur, the better it is for BYU and the Big 12. Wake Forest, currently 6.5-point underdogs, has already caused an upset this season and could potentially ruin Virginia”s playoff hopes.
As BYU continues its pursuit of a playoff berth, keeping an eye on these matchups could prove vital. The results this weekend could shape the playoff landscape significantly.
