BYU’s Playoff path remains an uphill climb with one loss

With a 9-1 record, the BYU Cougars find themselves both in contention and on the outside looking in.

The route to the 12-team College Football Playoff is simple, and really they're still in control of their own destiny when it comes to Big 12 play. This means getting past Cincinnati and UCF, along with a Big 12 title win. 

The sore spot on BYU's record is a 29-7 loss to No. 6 Texas Tech. Still, the opportunity for resume boost is still ahead of them. Especially if the Cougars and erase the lone defeat by beating the Red Raiders in a conference title rematch. 

Yet again, they don’t control everything. Teams ahead of them in the playoff chase still play tough road games. If one of those stumbles, BYU could slip in. But everything holds up, the Cougars may find themselves shut out despite a stellar season.

BYU coach Kalani Sitake has rallied his team under this pressure, but style points matter now more than ever. BYU must win convincingly and hope for help. The margin for error is null and void at this point. 

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