Predicting Where BYU, Utah Land In Third College Football Playoff Rankings

SALT LAKE CITY – The third installment of the College Football Playoff rankings for the 2025 season is going to be released on Tuesday, November 18, at 6:30 p.m. (MST).

Everyone around the Wasatch Front wonders, where will BYU and Utah land in this week’s rankings?

After seeing two-loss Oklahoma get a win over Alabama on the road, we’re not holding our breath for a sudden big jump into the bracket for the local teams.

Third installment of the College Football Playoff Top 25 in 2025

BYU crushed bowl-eligible TCU on Saturday night, 44-13. Will that type of dominance from a team that is going to play after the regular season, enough to leap some potential two-loss teams?

When asked during his Monday press conference if it frustrates him that his team is behind two-loss teams, Sitake focused on putting the best product on the field this week for their game against Cincinnati.

“I understand everything that’s out there. I’ve got to be focused on what we can control, which is playing football and the preparation today. That’s what I’ve got to focus on,” said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake.

“So, it’s nice that we’re in the mix and that people are recognizing what we do. But what does that matter if we don’t go 1-0 this weekend? My focus, and what I’m trying to keep the team focused on, is the stuff that we can control. I know one thing, we go out there and play at our best, I like our chances. But until then, I’m not going to sit here and campaign and waste my energy on stuff that I can’t control.”

Utah enters the week at 8-2 overall after another blowout 55-28 win at Baylor last Saturday. In Utah’s eight wins this season, the Utes’ average margin of victory is by 35.2 points.

However, they have two losses, to Texas Tech and BYU, which limit their potential to climb up the rankings. But it speaks to how the Playoff Committee views Utah that they were only one spot behind BYU, a team they lost to, in last week’s poll.

This week, Utah AD Mark Harlan will be part of putting together the rankings as the Playoff Committee was down two people, including Baylor AD and Playoff Chairman Mack Rhoades.

To try and tap into the brain of the College Football Playoff Committee, here’s a prediction of what the Top 25 might look like on Tuesday night.

College Football Playoff Top 25 Rankings Prediction

Predicting the third installment of the CFP rankings

1. Ohio State (Big Ten)

2. Indiana

3. Texas A&M (SEC)

4. Georgia

5. Texas Tech (Big 12)

6. Ole Miss

7. Oregon

8. Oklahoma

9. Notre Dame

10. Alabama

11. BYU

12. Utah

13. Vanderbilt

14. Miami (ACC)

15. USC

16. Michigan

17. Texas

18. Georgia Tech

19. Virginia

20. Tennessee

21. Navy (American)

22. Missouri

23. Houston

24. North Texas

25. James Madison

How the College Football Playoff bracket would look based on this projection

First Round matchups at higher-seed home venues

• (12) Navy at (5) Texas Tech
• (9) Notre Dame at (8) Oklahoma
• (11) Miami at (6) Ole Miss
• (10) Alabama at (7) Oregon

Quarterfinals at a bowl game (Cotton, Orange, Rose, Sugar)

• (1) Ohio State vs. Winner of 8/9 game
• (2) Indiana vs. Winner of 7/10 game
• (3) Texas A&M vs. Winner of 6/11 game
• (4) Georgia vs. Winner of 5/12 game

First Four Out of the Bracket: BYU, Utah, Vanderbilt, USC

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

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