The latest College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings have confirmed that the University of Utah remains at No. 13. Despite a bye week, the Utes (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) retained their position in the rankings released on November 7, 2023. This marks the second consecutive week Utah has been outside the top 12, as the University of BYU secured the No. 12 spot even after suffering a defeat against Texas Tech, which concluded with a score of 29-7 in Lubbock, Texas.
While Utah holds its current ranking, both the Utes and Cougars would miss the playoff if it commenced today. The selection committee did not include any Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) or Group of Five teams in the top 12. Instead, teams from the ACC, specifically Miami and South Florida, would occupy the No. 11 and No. 12 seeds, respectively, to fulfill the conference champion requirement.
Structure of the College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff will consist of twelve teams, with the five highest-ranked conference champions automatically qualifying for the postseason. The top four ranked teams, irrespective of conference championship status, will receive first-round byes. Should fewer than five conference champions be among the committee’s top 25 on selection day, the committee will rank the remaining conference champions to fill the playoff bracket until five are included.
In the latest rankings, six teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) dominate the top 12. Leading the pack are Texas A&M, Alabama, and Georgia, all ranked within the top five. Ohio State continues to hold the No. 1 position, followed closely by Indiana at No. 2 and Oregon at No. 8 from the Big Ten Conference. Notre Dame is positioned at No. 9, while Texas Tech has risen to No. 6 after their significant victory over BYU. Additionally, Cincinnati made an appearance at No. 25 after losing to Utah by a score of 45-14 on November 1.
Utah has now participated in 46 CFP rankings since the inception of the system in 2014. The Utes have finished in the top 25 on seven occasions, with their highest ranking achieved in 2022 when they reached No. 8.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Games
As the season progresses, Utah aims to keep its hopes for both a conference title and a College Football Playoff berth alive. The Utes are set to face Baylor in Week 12 on Saturday at 17:00 MT, a game that could significantly impact their postseason aspirations.
The second CFP rankings of the 2023 season highlight the competitive landscape of college football, as teams strive to position themselves favorably ahead of the playoffs. With the stakes rising, each game will play a crucial role in determining the final playoff picture.
Utah’s performance thus far includes notable victories against teams such as Arizona State and Cincinnati, but losses to Texas Tech and BYU have complicated their playoff journey. As the weeks unfold, all eyes will be on their upcoming matchups and the evolving rankings that could reshape the future of college football for the Utes.
