BYU enters the weekend ranked No. 12 in the College Football Playoff, and the path to a historic postseason run is officially on. Several games around the country could help clear the road for the Cougars to keep climbing.
Below is your full cheering guide for Friday and Saturday, including game details and what each result would mean for BYU’s playoff hopes.
FRIDAY GAMES
Clemson at #20 Louisville
Home: Louisville | Away: Clemson
Time: 5:30 PM MT | TV: ESPN
CFP Implications: BYU fans should root hard for Clemson. A Clemson win eliminates Louisville from at-large contention and removes another obstacle between BYU and a possible CFP berth.
Minnesota at #8 Oregon
Home: Oregon | Away: Minnesota
Time: 7:00 PM MT | TV: FOX
CFP Implications: A Minnesota win would be huge. Oregon is unlikely to lose, but if the Gophers pull off the upset, BYU moves up and gains major ground in the playoff race, AND it’s another B10 team most likely out of the playoff picture.
SATURDAY GAMES
#22 Pitt at #9 Notre Dame – KEY GAME
Time: 10:00 AM MT | TV: ABC
A Pitt upset would eliminate Notre Dame from CFP contention entirely and open a direct path for BYU to climb. This is one of the biggest matchups of the weekend for BYU’s playoff hopes.
Northwestern at #18 Michigan
Time: 10:00 AM MT | TV: FOX
BYU fans should cheer for Northwestern. A Wolverine loss knocks Michigan out of the at-large race and boosts BYU’s positioning.
#25 Cincinnati at Arizona
Time: 10:00 AM MT | TV: FS1
If Cincinnati wins, it helps BYU’s strength of record. If Arizona wins, it strengthens its Big 12 title chances — both outcomes have benefits, but a Cincy win is slightly better for BYU’s long-term resume.
Arizona State at West Virginia
Time: 11:00 AM MT | TV: TNT
ASU winning helps BYU’s overall strength of record. A WVU win increases their Big 12 Championship Game chances, which also indirectly helps the Cougars’ conference positioning. This is a low-stakes game.
#4 Alabama at #11 Oklahoma – KEY GAME
Time: 1:30 PM MT | TV: ABC
As gross as it might sound, root for Alabama. An Oklahoma loss eliminates the Sooners from CFP contention and gives BYU a direct rankings bump.
#6 Texas Tech vs UCF
Time: 1:30 PM MT | TV: FOX
Texas Tech’s win is good for BYU’s strength of record since the Red Raiders beat the Cougars.
#15 Miami vs NC State
Time: 1:30 PM MT | TV: ESPN
NC State upsetting Miami would officially remove the Hurricanes from the CFP conversation, giving BYU more room to climb.
Boston College vs #16 Georgia Tech
Time: 1:30 PM MT | TV: ACCN
BC upsetting Georgia Tech would knock the Yellow Jackets out of the at-large race and help clear another obstacle for BYU.
#17 USC vs #21 Iowa
Time: 1:30 PM MT | TV: BTN
BYU fans should root for Iowa. A Hawkeye win eliminates USC from any realistic at-large path.
Duke vs #19 Virginia
Time: 1:30 PM MT | TV: ESPN2
Cheer for Duke. A Virginia loss removes them from the at-large race and tightens the field around BYU.
Baylor vs #13 Utah
Time: 5:00 PM MT | TV: ESPN2
A Utah win helps BYU’s strength of record. A Baylor win helps BYU’s route to a Big 12 Championship Game berth — both are positives, depending on which goal you want to emphasize. But we all know which one, right???
#7 Ole Miss vs Florida
Time: 5:00 PM MT | TV: ESPN
A Florida upset would help BYU jump a top-10 team. Ole Miss isn’t likely to lose, but if it happens, it’s huge for the Cougars.
#5 Georgia vs #10 Texas – KEY GAME
Time: 5:30 PM MT | TV: ABC
Georgia beating Texas eliminates the Longhorns’ at-large hopes and guarantees BYU moves up. This is another crucial game for the Cougars’ playoff path.
