Week 10 exposed these 4 CFP hopefuls as pretenders after damaging losses and troubling performances
BYU loses ground in Big 12
BYU has lost two of its last three games and is now precariously placed in the Big 12 race. The No. 9 Cougars lost to unranked UCF and narrowly escaped unranked Arizona State before falling to No. 3 Utah.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw four interceptions against Utah. The article says BYU’s recent performances weaken its case for an at-large playoff spot, while Utah, Texas Tech, Arizona and Houston are gaining ground.
Ohio State faces quarterback doubts
Ohio State’s outlook changed sharply with starting quarterback Julian Sayin unavailable. Freshman Luke Fahey has struggled to meet Big Ten standards, while coach Ryan Day has not turned to five-star recruit Tavien St. Clair, the article says.
The Buckeyes could lose their remaining three games and finish 6-6, their worst season since 2011. Even a 9-3 finish, the article argues, should not guarantee a playoff place without a viable starting quarterback.
Miami falters against Notre Dame
Miami entered its game against No. 11 Notre Dame as the No. 1 team, but the article says the Hurricanes had not faced a playoff-caliber opponent before Saturday. Darian Mensah had a chance to strengthen his Heisman Trophy case but fell short.
Miami converted 6 of 14 third downs and committed two turnovers in South Bend. The article points to the team’s first exposure to cold Midwest weather as a factor, while predicting Miami could still reach the ACC title game.
Committee faces ranking questions
The final 12-team playoff picture remains unsettled, with three regular-season weeks left. The article says the selection committee should move struggling teams outside the field or onto the bubble.
It also questions the early rankings for the teams discussed, arguing recent results should carry more weight. The account ends mid-sentence while discussing Miami’s prospects, so it provides no complete assessment of that point.
Key points
- BYU has lost two of its last three and fallen behind Utah in the Big 12 race.
- Bear Bachmeier threw four interceptions against Utah.
- Ohio State could finish 6-6 if it loses its remaining three games.
- Miami went 6-for-14 on third downs and turned the ball over twice against Notre Dame.