Utah's CFP Dreams Hinge on Big 12 Chaos

The Utah Utes are on the cusp of College Football Playoff contention, ranked 12th and eyeing a potential spot in the expanded bracket. Their path to the playoff is narrow, primarily relying on winning the Big 12 championship game. This scenario demands not only their own victories but also favorable outcomes in other conference matchups to create multi-team ties.

Utah's strength of schedule proves to be a key differentiator, holding an advantage over other Big 12 teams in tie-breaking scenarios. This metric, which considers the win percentage of opponents, could propel the Utes into the conference championship game even if they aren't in a clear top-two position.

However, Utah's playoff aspirations are precarious. They require several upsets among teams ranked above them and within their own conference to move into a qualifying position. The selection committee will evaluate all available data, including a potential Big 12 championship game appearance, when making their final decisions.