College Football's Best Story: Arizona State's Big 12 Triumph
After this dominant win, coach Kenny Dillingham and the Sun Devils are basking in their accomplishment. But questions remain. The victory earned them a spot in the College Football Playoff as one of the five highest - ranked conference champions. Now, the big question is where they will end up in the playoff bracket.Is Arizona State in the College Football Playoff?
Technically, they aren't in yet. But in all practical senses, they are. The College Football Playoff reserves spots for the top - rated conference champions, and Arizona State is nine spots higher than Army, the next - highest - ranked conference champion. Army's win against Tulane on Friday night won't be enough to overtake the Sun Devils.This showcases Arizona State's remarkable standing in the college football landscape. Their performance this season has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Will Arizona State Get a Bye in the College Football Playoff?
The 12 - team College Football Playoff guarantees the four highest - rated conference champions a first - round bye. With four major conferences, it was widely assumed that the champions of each league would earn a bye. But in the new format's first year, that might not be the case.Boise State, which won the Mountain West championship game against UNLV on Friday night, is currently ranked No. 10, while Arizona State is at No. 15. Boise State is the fourth - highest - rated conference champion, and the Sun Devils are fifth. Barring a significant shakeup, Boise State is likely to earn the fourth and final bye, leaving Arizona State to play a first - round game, probably on the road.
The Sun Devils' Impressive Streak
The Sun Devils' margin of victory against Iowa State was truly impressive. It capped off a six - game stretch where they were among the most dominant teams in the sport. During this time, they went 6 - 0 and beat three teams that were ranked in the top 20 at the time of the matchup.This streak has solidified their place as a force to be reckoned with in college football. Their consistency and ability to perform against top - ranked teams are remarkable.
Big 12 Commissioner's Praise
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark quickly noted Arizona State's dominance during the post - game trophy presentation. He said, "The last six weeks, there has not been a better team in college football than ASU. As far as I'm concerned, you've punched your ticket to Tempe." (One of the playoff quarterfinal games is the Fiesta Bowl in nearby Glendale, Arizona, where the Sun Devils would likely end up if they get a bye.)This praise from the commissioner further emphasizes Arizona State's exceptional performance and their potential to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Boise State's Impressive Victory
The Broncos impressed in their Mountain West championship victory, beating a top - 20 UNLV team by 14 points for their second win against the Rebels this season. Ashton Jeanty's 209 rushing yards and a touchdown added to their luster.But the question remains: will Arizona State's win be enough to push them up six spots and past Boise State? Entering this week, Arizona State had the No. 16 strength of record in ESPN's Football Power Index, five spots behind Boise State. The Sun Devils had the No. 72 strength of schedule, putting them 10 spots ahead of the Broncos.
Another Scenario for Arizona State
If Clemson beats SMU in the ACC championship game, the Tigers would be one of the five top conference champions (at the expense of the Mustangs, the projected No. 3 seed). But at No. 17 in the most recent playoff committee rankings, it's almost certain that the Tigers will finish behind Arizona State, making the Sun Devils the No. 4 conference champion at worst.This scenario adds another layer of uncertainty and excitement for Arizona State's playoff hopes. Their performance in the coming weeks will be crucial in determining their final standing.
College Football Playoff Projected Bracket
Here's the projected College Football Playoff bracket as of 5:45 p.m. ET, with the Big 12 championship result taken into consideration and the results of the other major conferences based on the higher seed winning:OregonTexasSMUBoise StateNotre DamePenn StateGeorgiaOhio StateTennesseeIndianaArizona StateAlabama