Arizona’s win over TCU may have kept the Wildcats’ Big 12 title hope chances alive, but the victory didn’t do much to win over College Football Playoff committee members.
The CFP ranked Arizona No. 23 in this week’s rankings, one spot lower than a week ago. The 7-2 Wildcats are behind five three-loss teams from the Big Ten and SEC.
The CFP committee apparently penalized Arizona for its comeback victory against TCU while at the same time elevating
Texas Tech three spots from No. 15 to No. 12 despite the Red Raiders needing a fourth quarter comeback to beat West Virginia. The inconsistency in Arizona and Texas Tech’s ranking movement defies an easy explanation.
The good news for Arizona is that it can elevate its resume with a win over No. 2 Utah on Saturday. Arizona currently lacks a victory against a top 25 team.
Would beating Utah be enough to put Arizona on the bubble for an at-large berth? Arizona would need to climb to No. 11 to earn a bid. Otherwise Arizona’s only chance of being in the Playoff would to make the Big 12 title game, win and claim the Big 12’s auto-bid.
For now, Arizona fans can’t do much but fume at the CFP committee’s rankings rationale.
