College Football HQ

How BYU-Texas Tech changes College Football Playoff rankings amid Big 12 Championship

Here's everything you need to know about BYU and Texas Tech's chances to make the College Football Playoff.
Jonathan Adams|
Dec 6, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; BYU Cougars running back LJ Martin (4) is tackled by Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back Cole Wisniewski (5) during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Dec 6, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; BYU Cougars running back LJ Martin (4) is tackled by Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back Cole Wisniewski (5) during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

In this story:

BYU CougarsTexas Tech Red Raiders

The Big 12 Championship will have a major impact on the College Football Playoff rankings. For fans rooting for chaos, if BYU wins the Big 12 title, it likely means two teams from the conference would make the bracket.

This would cause a domino effect where one of the other major at-large teams would lose their CFP spot. A Texas Tech win creates a litle more of a straight forward scenario for the College Football Playoff picture.

Let's dive into BYU and Texas Tech's chances to make the College Football Playoff.

Texas Tech is a near lock to make the College Football Playoff

Regardless of the Big 12 Championship result, Texas Tech is viewed as a near lock to make the postseason. The bigger question is if the Red Raiders will secure a top-four seed along with a first-round bye. Heading into the Big 12 title game, Texas Tech sat at No. 4 in the CFP rankings.

Prior to the Big 12 title clash, Texas Tech had a 98% chance to make the College Football Playoff, per The Athletic. A win likely means the Red Raiders would secure one of the top four seeds and a first-round bye.

If Texas Tech loses to BYU, the Red Raiders are still likely to be inside the top eight seeds, which means the Red Raiders would host a first-round game in Lubbock. The loss would likely eliminate Texas Tech from contention for a first-round bye.

BYU likely needs to win Big 12 to make the College Football Playoff

BYU likely needs to win the Big 12 Championship in order to make the College Football Playoff. Heading into the conference championship games, the Cougars sat at No. 11 in the CFP rankings.

With the final two seeds likely going to some combination of the Group of Six and ACC champions, BYU and other teams looking to secure an at-large seed would need to be ranked at least No. 10 to make the postseason.

Prior to the conference title games, BYU had a 32% chance to make the postseason. A BYU win over Texas Tech would push the Cougars up the rankings and into the College Football Playoff bracket.

 For fans of the Big 12, you are likely rooting for BYU to win the conference title game in order for the conference to have two teams making the College Football Playoff.

Published
Jonathan Adams
JONATHAN ADAMS

Jonathan Adams is a veteran sports writer who has written for notable outlets and interviewed some of the top athletes for more than 10 years. Since 2015, his sports coverage has been read by tens of millions and has been prominently featured on Heavy, NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and more. Jonathan is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and a voter for the Maxwell Award and Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year. He has interviewed many of the biggest stars in sports — Bryce Harper, Jayden Daniels, Justin Jefferson, Bijan Robinson and Micah Parsons to name a few — and has traveled the country to cover the College Football Playoff, NFL draft, Masters, March Madness, Senior Bowl, McDonald’s All-American Game and beyond. Jonathan Adams studied at the University of Central Florida and The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. He holds master degrees in sport business management, business administration and theology & culture.

Share on XFollow JonDAdams
Home/News