Matt Leinart, Urban Meyer Discuss BYU Football’s Path To College Football Playoff

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former USC and NFL quarterback Matt Leinart, now a host for FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, laid out three steps for BYU football to make the College Football Playoff.

During the Big Noon Kickoff pregame show on Saturday, November 14, Leinhart, along with former Utah coach Urban Meyer, Brady Quinn, and Reggie Bush, discussed the possibility that No. 7 Cincinnati or No. 8 BYU make the pool of final four teams to compete for a national championship.

Leinhart said that in a typical college football season non-Power Five teams like BYU or Cincy have a near “impossible” shot to make the playoff.

The former Heisman Trophy winner emphasized that 2020 is not a normal season though.

"It's nearly impossible for a Group of 5 team to get into the playoff in normal circumstances…but these aren't normal circumstances."@MattLeinartQB, @CoachUrbanMeyer, @Brady_Quinn and @ReggieBush look at BYU and Cincinnati's chances of making the CFP on #BigNoonKickoff pic.twitter.com/qyGAHLmJMn

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 14, 2020

Steps to the College Football Playoff

Leinhart presented the following steps as a process of elimination that could see the Cougars or Bearcats competing for a title:

1. Alabama wins all remaining games, including SEC Championship
2. Texas A&M loses one more game
3. Notre Dame or Clemson finishes with 2+ losses

An obvious fourth step would be for BYU or Cincinnati to finish their regular season slates without a blemish.

Meyer, who led the Utah Utes to an undefeated season in 2004, said that on a weekly basis teams like BYU and Cincinnati would struggle to hang with P5 teams because of depth.

College Football legend Urban Meyer not only gave recognition to Kalani Sitake this week, he also said the word "BYU" instead of "TDS." 😂#BYUFootball #GoCougs https://t.co/aF17NquBp8

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 14, 2020

The former Utah coached advocated, like he did more than 15 years ago, the 2004 Utes would’ve been able to beat the top teams on any given weekend.

Meyer said that BYU head coach Kalani Sitake should continue to push the pedal when it comes to scoring lots of points because “style points” matter in the case to earn a playoff spot as a non-Power Five team.

Is #BYU looking to add games that could help its College Football Playoff or New Year's Six resumé?

Kalani Sitake just wants to get another game. #BYUFootball @kslsports pic.twitter.com/j83XXhHmO0

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 10, 2020

BYU is currently the second-highest ranked, non-Power Five team behind Cincy. The Cougars own an 8-0 record and only have home contests against North Alabama and San Diego State left on their schedule.

Only three teams ranked ahead of the Bearcats and Cougars remain undefeated.

BYU’s next game is against North Alabama on Saturday, November 21 at 1 p.m. (MDT). The game will broadcast on BYUtv and KSL NewsRadio 102.7 FM and 1160 AM.