The Utah Utes hold steady at No. 13 in the latest **College Football Playoff** (CFP) rankings, released on **November 7, 2023**. After a bye week, the Utes maintained their position from the previous week, despite the competitive landscape of college football. Currently, with a record of **7-2** and **4-2** in the Big 12, Utah remains outside the top 12, a critical threshold for playoff contention.
The top 12 rankings are dominated by **six teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC)**, with **Texas A&M**, **Alabama**, and **Georgia** all securing spots in the top five. **Ohio State** leads the rankings, followed closely by **Indiana** and **Oregon**. Notably, **BYU** has claimed the No. 12 position, even after suffering a defeat against **Texas Tech** with a score of **29-7** in Lubbock, Texas.
As it stands, neither Utah nor BYU would qualify for the playoff if it were to start today. The selection committee has opted not to include any teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) or Group of 5 conferences within the top 12. Instead, **Miami** and **South Florida** would fill the **No. 11** and **No. 12** slots, respectively, to meet the requirement for conference champions. The playoff format allows for **12 teams**, with the five highest-ranked conference champions earning automatic bids, while four top teams receive first-round byes.
Utah’s position is particularly precarious given the playoff criteria. If fewer than five conference champions are ranked in the committee’s top 25 on selection day, the committee will add the highest-ranked remaining conference champions until that number is reached. This setup emphasizes the importance of strong performance in upcoming games.
The Utes, who defeated **Cincinnati** **45-14** on **November 1**, now find themselves in a crucial phase of the season. They have appeared in **46** CFP rankings since the system’s inception in **2014**, finishing in the top 25 on seven occasions, with their highest ranking reaching **No. 8** in **2022**. Looking ahead, Utah aims to solidify its standing in the conference and playoff race with a pivotal matchup against **Baylor** on **November 11, 2023**, scheduled for **5 p.m. MT** on ESPN2.
As the season progresses, the Utes will need to leverage their notable victories against teams like **Arizona State** and **Cincinnati** while addressing their losses to **Texas Tech** and **BYU**. The remaining schedule will be crucial for enhancing their strength of record and overall playoff viability.
The current CFP rankings emphasize not only the competitive nature of college football but also the evolving strategies as teams vie for a coveted spot in the playoff. As the Utes prepare to face Baylor, their performance will be under close scrutiny, with significant implications for their postseason aspirations.
