BYU COUGARS

BYU Football Ranks In Top 15 Of Initial 2021 College Football Playoff Rankings

Nov 2, 2021, 5:23 PM | Updated: 5:24 pm

BYU Football - Kalani Sitake...

Brigham Young Cougars  coach Kalani Sitake walks off the field after a timeout as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. BYU won 35-27. (Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)

(Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)

PROVO, Utah – BYU football earned some respect in the first ranking of the 2021 College Football Playoff rankings. The Cougars were ranked at No. 15 by the committee.

That’s a nice start for the Cougars, which leaves them in the hunt for a potential at-large bid in the New Year’s Six.

Keep in mind, the Playoff Committee starts from scratch each week with their rankings. The weakest stretch of BYU’s schedule is coming up with Idaho State and Georgia Southern this month. But BYU has a chance to go in the final month of the season with a chance to play for a New Year’s Six bowl.

Remember last season, an undefeated BYU team was ranked No. 14 in the initial Playoff rankings. BYU taking down five Power Five teams, plus having wins over five winning teams has impressed the committee thus far.

BYU’s two losses this season are against Boise State and No. 12 Baylor.

BYU Football at No. 15 in first CFP rankings of 2021

Released on November 2, 2021

1. Georgia

2. Alabama

3. Michigan State

4. Oregon

5. Ohio State

6. Cincinnati

7. Michigan (7-1)

8. Oklahoma (9-0)

9. Wake Forest (8-0)

10. Notre Dame (7-1)

11. Oklahoma State (7-1)

12. Baylor (7-1)

13. Auburn (6-2)

14. Texas A&M (6-2)

15. BYU (7-2)

16. Ole Miss (6-2)

17. Mississippi State (5-3)

18. Kentucky (6-2)

19. NC State (6-2)

20. Minnesota (6-2)

21. Wisconsin (5-3)

22. Iowa (6-2)

23. Fresno State (7-2)

24. San Diego State (7-1)

25. Pitt (6-2)

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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BYU Football Ranks In Top 15 Of Initial 2021 College Football Playoff Rankings