Boise State moves ahead of BYU and into CFP bye territory - ESPN

Boise State moved ahead of BYU in the third installment of rankings released by the College Football Playoff selection committee Tuesday night, putting the Broncos in position to receive a first-round bye ahead of the Big 12 champion.

The top five remain unchanged, with No. 1 Oregon leading the way, followed by No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Penn State and No. 5 Indiana. But the biggest storyline is the way the committee dropped BYU after a 17-13 loss to Kansas put an end to its unbeaten season.

BYU (9-1) moved down eight spots from No. 6 to No. 14, falling behind No. 12 Boise State (9-1).

Using the current rankings, Oregon (Big Ten), Texas (SEC), Miami (ACC) and Boise State (Mountain West) would be the four highest-rated conference champions and would receive first-round byes in the 12-team playoff. BYU (Big 12) would be included in the playoff as the fifth-highest rated conference champion but would be the No. 12 seed and have to play in the first round.

Based on résumés, Boise State has a better loss than BYU — on the road against No. 1 Oregon, after the Ducks kicked a winning field goal as time expired. BYU lost at home to a Kansas team that is 4-6. The week before, BYU needed a late comeback to beat Utah. The Cougars have not yet played any of the Big 12 teams ranked in the current top 25, though they play at No. 21 Arizona State on Saturday.

«We certainly consider strength [of schedule] in all of the conversations that we have,» Warde Manuel, chair of the CFP committee, said on ESPN's rankings release show Tuesday night. «We also look at how the teams are playing, and what it is the success on the field.»

BYU's best win is over SMU, and though the teams are both 9-1 and BYU has the head-to-head win, the