Can BYU Make the College Football Playoff?
BYU is one of the select few undefeated college football teams at the conclusion of Week 9. The Cougars entered their road game against Iowa State as an underdog, but a second-half rally kept BYU’s perfect record intact.
The Cougars have a real shot to make the 2025 College Football Playoff. Let’s dive into a couple of BYU’s futures props to get a feel for how oddsmakers value this program entering the final month of the regular season.
Currently, BYU is a distant second to win the Big 12 behind Texas Tech. The Cougars are +490 to win the Big 12 Conference Championship Game, while sitting +900 to make the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals.
Bet on BYU’s current odds to either win the Big 12 or make the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals. Get a big return on investment if the Cougars wind up winning out.
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Texas Tech is the biggest obstacle for BYU to overcome, according to the Big 12 Conference Championship Game winner betting market. The Red Raiders play the Cougars in a couple of weeks, setting up for a major showdown in Lubbock, Texas.
If BYU survives and goes 2-0 on the road during this pivotal stretch against Iowa State and Texas Tech, expect odds to shorten drastically in their favor. The last three opponents include TCU and UCF at home, while a tough trip to play a one-loss Cincinnati Bearcats team could spoil the season.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake has his team playing complementary football. The Cougars rank 14th in scoring defense (15.6) and 29th in scoring offense (35.6), while forcing at least one turnover in every game this season.
QB Bear Bachmeier and RB LJ Martin are an effective tandem in the Cougars’ backfield. Wideouts Parker Kingston and Chase Roberts do the majority of work as Bachmeier’s primary targets.
Ultimately, BYU’s offense is built on establishing the run and playing physical on either side of the line of scrimmage. There’s still a lot of football to be played, but there’s no doubt that fans and players are beginning to compare 2025 to the university’s lone National Championship title won in 1984.
Defense has been the calling card for BYU this season. While the Cougars have allowed between 21 and 27 points in five straight games, they’ve forced timely turnovers while limiting opponents to a 56 percent completion rate and 3.6 YPC.
It’s no secret that the Big 12 conference is overshadowed by the Big Ten and SEC on the national stage. This could work in BYU’s favor, allowing them to continue flying under the radar, keeping their ego in check, and grinding out their regular-season schedule.
Heading into a bye following their big comeback win against Iowa State gives BYU an edge ahead of their biggest game of the year against Texas Tech in Week 11. As long as the Cougars continue to play their brand of football, we’re increasingly likely to see them qualify for their first College Football Playoff appearance.
