BYU football is undeniable in the CFP conversation thanks to latest AP Top 25

BYU's struggle to maintain their massive lead against Colorado State was more frustrating than concerning.

After putting the Rams at a 31-point disadvantage on their own home turf, BYU football had proved their point and were well on the way to a 3-0 record -- Kalani Sitake has never not started 3-0 since the Cougars joined the Big 12.

But then the reserves came in, and Pandora's Box opened right in the center of the field.

With a third-string quarterback and nothing to play for but pride, the Rams scored two touchdowns and cashed in a two-point conversion on top of each score for 16 fourth-quarter points. BYU's final lead shrank to 18 points, which covered the betting line, but was a dissatisfying conclusion for a team that had completely dominated for the better part of 50 minutes of game time.

It doesn't help that much of the BYU fanbase had just voiced their distaste for Kalani Sitake's decision to kneel at the goal line against Arizona the week before. Relinquishing a commanding lead in the name of sportsmanship and/or safety could mean the difference between favor in the eyes of the selection committee and yet another frustrating exclusion from the College Football Playoff. After all, in the modern age of college football, scoreboards and appearances are everything, right?

Apparently not.

After taking down Arizona 28-17, BYU jumped up four spots in the polls, from 15 to 11.

Following their road win against Colorado State, they broke into the top 10, settling with the 9th overall ranking for Week 4.

It's the first time a BYU football team has been ranked this high this early in the season since 2009, where a massive upset against 3rd-ranked Oklahoma lifted the Cougars to the coveted top 10.

2009 was nearly 2 decades ago. BYU also eclipsed the top 10 in 2024 and 2025 -- which were impressive accomplishments for a team that began both of those seasons unranked entirely -- before losses to Kansas and Texas Tech knocked them back down the order.

Being ranked so high so quickly means that, for the first time in a long time, BYU football is finally getting the benefit of the doubt. This year is different for a program that has been direspected and unfairly evaluated over the past two seasons, because it only took wins over Utah Tech, Arizona, and Colorado State to enter the top 10 range.

That is a huge deal; for once, anchoring bias favors the Cougars.

The AP Poll is not the same thing as the CFP rankings, but only a fool would suggest that the CFP selection committee isn't at least slightly influenced by the AP Top 25 throughout the first half of the season. If BYU can handle business, impress viewers against Notre Dame and Utah (assuming the Utes' hot start isn't fool's gold), and reach the Big 12 Championship Game once again, there will be no denying the Cougars' ticket to the playoff.

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