BYU receiver Parker Kingston questioned whether the Cougars should have played in the Big 12 title game after another loss to Texas Tech.
The No. 11 Cougars were right on the bubble of an at-large bid to the playoffs. With a loss, BYU could move down in the standings even as other teams didn’t play.
“To have the conference championship [loss] as the reason why we can’t get in is not right. I mean, what’s the point of even getting to the conference championship if it’s going to hurt your odds of getting into the playoff?” Kingston said.
Turns out, Kingston was right about it hurting his team.
BYU fell one spot after a 34-7 beating, allowing an idle Miami to jump ahead of it.
Meanwhile, Alabama was also blown out in the SEC championship — losing to Georgia 28-7 — but stayed at No. 9 and in the field.
So why did BYU get knocked for a loss but not the Tide?
“The biggest difference in those two situations was the fact that Alabama had already beaten Georgia at Georgia earlier in the year,” committee chairman Hunter Yurachek said.
“BYU had that same opportunity at Texas Tech earlier in the year,” he continued. “And BYU did not perform and look great in either one of those games versus Texas Tech, the one that was played about four weeks ago and then of course yesterday’s game.”
Alabama will play Oklahoma in the first round of the playoff. BYU will prepare for a bowl game.
“That was the biggest difference, is Alabama had that big win at Georgia, which is arguably the best win of any team this season,” Yurachek said.