FORT WORTH, Texas — Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark expressed his concerns regarding the latest College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, asserting that the champion of the Big 12 should receive a first-round bye instead of any Group of Five champion. During a Zoom call on Wednesday, he criticized the selection committee’s preferences for team logos over statistical performance, which he believes undermines the achievements of teams within the Big 12.
The upcoming Big 12 championship game will feature Arizona State and Iowa State, both holding 10-2 records, yet they find themselves outside the top 12 in the current CFP rankings. They trail behind three teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) that each have three losses: No. 11 Alabama, No. 13 Mississippi, and No. 14 South Carolina, with Arizona State positioned 15th and Iowa State 16th.
Yormark emphasized his frustration, stating, “The committee continues to show time and time again that they are paying attention to logos versus resumes.” He elaborated on the situation, highlighting that the Big 12 is currently ranked lower than No. 10 Boise State, which boasts an 11-1 record in the Mountain West Conference. Boise State has achieved a remarkable 10-game winning streak following a close defeat to top-ranked Oregon, marking their only matchup against a Power Four opponent.
According to the CFP’s final rankings, the top five conference champions are guaranteed spots in the playoff, with the first four earning byes. Presently, there are four potential conference champions ahead of the Big 12. Current projections suggest that the Big 12 champion could end up as the No. 12 seed and be required to play an opening game on the road.
“Strength of schedule should matter and wins against Power Four opponents should matter — 74% of the Big 12 wins were against Power Four opponents this season,” Yormark stated. He pointed out the stark contrast with the Group of Five teams, which hold a dismal record of 11-80. He reiterated, “In no way should a Group of Five champion be ranked above our champion.”
Yormark stressed the importance of strength of schedule as a key metric for the CFP rankings, noting that both Arizona State and Iowa State had notable success in their non-conference games against Power Four opponents. Just below these teams in the rankings is No. 17 Clemson (9-3), which is set to compete against No. 8 SMU in the ACC championship game. If Clemson wins, they would secure a playoff spot as the ACC champion.
“The committee clearly focuses on the wins and loss column,” Yormark remarked, making it clear that under this guideline, no three-loss Power Four team should be prioritized over a two-loss Big 12 champion. He has consistently supported the development of a 12-team playoff format, expressing that it has brought significant excitement and fan engagement, making the month of November particularly thrilling.
This season concluded with a four-way tie for first place in the 16-team Big 12 Conference. Ultimately, Arizona State and Iowa State advanced to the championship game through a series of tiebreakers that eliminated both No. 18 BYU and No. 23 Colorado from contention.
Yormark remains hopeful for eventual adjustments in the final CFP rankings, despite his disagreements with the current evaluations. “Obviously, I challenge what I’ve seen to date, and again I’m going to lean on strength of schedule. I don’t think it’s played out the way it should,” he commented. “But I do have trust in the committee that ultimately we’ll land where we’re supposed to land. And, you know, that ultimately will mean we’ll get a bye. It will come down to the selection committee making that decision, but I’m hopeful it will be the right one.”
