Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark Slams CFP Rankings: “Logos vs. Résumés”
FORT WORTH, Texas — The College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings are under fire, and Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark isn’t holding back. On Wednesday, Yormark made it crystal clear that he’s not happy with how the rankings are shaping up, especially when it comes to his conference’s champion being denied a first-round bye in favor of a Group of 5 champion.
Yormark’s frustration comes as Arizona State and Iowa State, both sitting at 10-2, prepare to face off in the Big 12 championship game this Saturday. Despite their strong records, neither team cracked the top 12 in the latest CFP rankings. Instead, they find themselves ranked 15th and 16th, respectively, behind three SEC teams with three losses: No. 11 Alabama, No. 13 Ole Miss, and No. 14 South Carolina.
“The [selection] committee continues to show time and time again that they are paying attention to logos versus résumés,” Yormark said during a fiery four-minute statement on a Zoom call previewing the Big 12 title game.
Big 12 vs. Group of 5: A Battle for Respect
Adding fuel to the fire, the Big 12 champion is currently ranked below No. 10 Boise State (11-1) from the Mountain West Conference. Boise State, riding a 10-game winning streak, will face No. 20 UNLV in the Mountain West title game on Friday night. The Broncos’ only loss this season came on a last-second field goal against top-ranked Oregon, their lone Power 4 opponent.
Under the CFP format, the five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed playoff spots, with the top four earning first-round byes. As it stands, the Big 12 champion is projected to be the No. 12 seed, meaning they’d have to play a first-round game on the road. Yormark isn’t having it.
“Strength of schedule should matter, and wins against Power 4 opponents should matter — 74% of the Big 12 wins were against Power 4 opponents this season,” Yormark argued. “Meanwhile, the Group of 5 is 11-80. … In no way should a Group of 5 champion be ranked above our champion.”
He repeated that last line for emphasis, hammering home his belief that the CFP committee isn’t giving the Big 12 the respect it deserves. Yormark also pointed out that both Arizona State and Iowa State went 7-2 in Big 12 play and won their nonconference games against Power 4 opponents.
Other Teams in the Mix
Just below Arizona State and Iowa State in the rankings is No. 17 Clemson (9-3), which will face No. 8 SMU in the ACC championship game on Saturday night. A win for Clemson would secure them a playoff spot as the ACC champion. Meanwhile, No. 5 Georgia (10-2) is set to take on No. 2 Texas (11-1) in the SEC title game.
“The committee clearly focuses on the wins and loss column. Going by that principle, no three-loss team from a Power 4 conference should get a bye over a two-loss champion from the Big 12,” Yormark said, doubling down on his stance.
A Magical November, but a Frustrating December
Despite his frustrations, Yormark acknowledged the excitement generated by the 12-team playoff format, which he had advocated for. He called November “truly magical,” as the Big 12 saw a four-way tie for first place in its 16-team conference at the end of the regular season. Arizona State and Iowa State advanced to the championship game through a series of tiebreakers, leaving No. 18 BYU and No. 23 Colorado on the outside looking in.
Still, Yormark is holding out hope that the final CFP rankings, set to be released on Sunday, will reflect what he believes is the Big 12’s rightful place.
“Obviously I challenge what I’ve seen to date, and again I’m going to lean on strength of schedule. I don’t think it’s played out the way it should,” Yormark said. “But I do have trust in the committee that ultimately we’ll land where we’re supposed to land. And, you know, that ultimately will mean we’ll get a bye. … It will come down to the selection committee making that decision, but I’m hopeful it will be the right one.”
Key Takeaways
- Arizona State and Iowa State, both 10-2, are ranked 15th and 16th in the CFP rankings, behind three three-loss SEC teams.
- The Big 12 champion is currently projected to be the No. 12 seed, with no first-round bye.
- Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is calling for strength of schedule to be a bigger factor in the rankings.
As the college football world waits for the final CFP rankings, one thing is clear: the debate over logos versus résumés is far from over.
Originally Written by: Heather Dinich
