Boise State Steals the Show: Big 12's Playoff Bye Dreams Fade

In college football’s newest postseason extravaganza, Boise State has scored a big win. The Broncos clinched the Mountain West Conference title on Friday night, securing their spot in the sport’s first 12-team playoff. UNLV couldn't keep up, losing 21-7 to the Broncos' Heisman hopeful, Ashton Jeanty. The real loser here might be the Big 12, whose hopes for a first-round bye are now dimmed. Boise State is expected to maintain or improve their No. 10 ranking in the final College Football Playoff rankings, due out on Sunday. This likely means they’ll be among the top four conference champions, earning a first-round bye. Meanwhile, the Big 12 title game on Saturday features No. 15 Arizona State against No. 16 Iowa State. The winner is in the playoff, but a bye (and the extra $4 million) relies on the Atlantic Coast Conference's No. 8 SMU losing to No. 17 Clemson.

The drama doesn’t stop there. Alabama, SMU, and Miami are also in the mix. Alabama seems secure in the bracket unless SMU loses or there’s a change of heart from the selection committee. This could lead to the Southeastern Conference having four teams in the playoff. The ACC commissioner, Jim Phillips, isn’t thrilled, recalling last year's snub of undefeated Florida State for Alabama. Some teams are almost certainly in. Boise State’s bid is a sure thing, and top-ranked Oregon, the only undefeated team, is a lock. Oregon's game against No. 3 Penn State on Saturday is for the Big Ten title and a first-round bye. If Penn State wins, they could even snag the top seed. In the SEC, it’s No. 2 Texas vs. No. 5 Georgia, with the winner getting a bye and the loser still likely making the playoffs. Not every team is in the clear. No. 4 Notre Dame might get a home game, while No. 9 Indiana is likely on the road. Then there’s the No. 6 Ohio State and No. 7 Tennessee tussle over home-field advantage. Last week’s projected bracket paired them in Columbus, but Tennessee wants a return to computer-based rankings for fairness.

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