BYU debuts at No. 15 in College Football Playoff Rankings

PROVO, Utah — BYU received a No. 15 ranking in the inaugural 2021 College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday by the CFP selection committee. 

The Cougars (7-2) boast five wins over Power 5 conference opponents this season coming off their historic shootout victory over the Bronco Mendenhall-led Virginia Cavaliers of the ACC on Saturday. BYU has a 5-1 record overall against Power 5 opponents this year with USC of the Pac-12 still on the schedule. To date, Cougars boast P5 wins over then nationally ranked Utah and Arizona State as well as Virginia, Washington State and Arizona while suffering a setback at Baylor, who is ranked No. 12 by the CFP committee.  

The top-10 teams in the the CFP rankings are Georgia (8-0), Alabama (7-1), Michigan State (8-0), Oregon (7-1), Ohio State (7-1), Cincinnati (8-0), Michigan (7-1), Oklahoma (9-0), Wake Forest (8-0) and Notre Dame (7-1). Ranked just ahead of the Cougars are Oklahoma State (7-1), Baylor (7-1), Auburn (6-2) and Texas A&M (6-2). 

In the national polls, BYU is currently ranked No. 17 in The Associated Press Top 25 and and No. 20 in the USA Today AFCA Coaches Poll. The Cougars will host Idaho State on Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium in a 1:30 p.m. MT kick on BYUtv and ESPN3.