Going into the final week of action in October, both BYU and Utah are viewed as College Football Playoff contenders and it’s reflected in the latest bowl projections.
The No. 6 Utes are the lone unbeaten team remaining in the Big 12, after beating then-No. 14 Houston 21-13 last Saturday to improve to 7-0 on the season and 4-0 in league play.
The No. 8 Cougars suffered their first loss last Saturday, falling 39-31 to UCF in double overtime to drop to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 action. BYU, though, has its win over then-No. 2 Notre Dame to bolster its CFP résumé.
The Deseret News took a look at seven bowl projections released this week, and in each of them, both Utah and BYU are included in the CFP field.
If the Utes and Cougars finish the season strong, there is a solid chance that both of these rivals — who play each other on Nov. 7 — could end up representing the Big 12 in the playoff.
Here’s a look at the latest bowl projections for every Big 12 team following Week 8 of the 2026 season.
ESPN, Kyle Bonagura
- BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 7 seed hosting No. 10 seed Wake Forest
- Utah’s bowl projection: CFP quarterfinals, No. 4 seed facing No. 5 seed Georgia
Note: Bonagura has Utah beating Georgia and advancing to the CFP semifinals before losing to No. 1 seed Miami in the Sugar Bowl. He also has BYU beating Wake Forest and advancing to the CFP quarterfinals before losing to No. 2 seed Ohio State.
Other Big 12 bowl projections
- Arizona: Sun Bowl, vs. Virginia Tech
- Arizona State: Poinsettia Bowl, vs. Fresno State
- Baylor: First Responder Bowl, vs. Florida Atlantic
- Cincinnati: Cactus Bowl, vs. Michigan
- Houston: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. SMU
- Kansas State: Armed Forces Bowl, vs. North Texas
- Oklahoma State: Texas Bowl, vs. Tennessee
- Texas Tech: Alamo Bowl, vs. Oregon
- UCF: Liberty Bowl, vs. Missouri
- West Virginia: Independence Bowl, vs. UConn
ESPN, Mark Schlabach
- BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 9 seed playing at No. 8 seed Utah
- Utah’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 8 seed hosting No. 9 seed BYU
Note: Schlabach has Utah beating BYU and advancing to the CFP quarterfinals before losing to No. 1 seed Miami.
Other Big 12 bowl projections
- Arizona: Las Vegas Bowl, vs. Missouri
- Arizona State: Poinsettia Bowl, vs. Texas State
- Baylor: Liberty Bowl, vs. Mississippi State
- Cincinnati: Cactus Bowl, vs. Michigan
- Houston: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. SMU
- Kansas State: First Responder Bowl, vs. North Texas
- Oklahoma State: Texas Bowl, vs. Oklahoma
- Texas Tech: Alamo Bowl, vs. USC
- UCF: Armed Forces Bowl, vs. Army
- West Virginia: Independence Bowl, vs. Washington
The Athletic, Scott Dochterman
- BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 10 seed playing at No. 7 seed Alabama
- Utah’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 5 seed hosting No. 12 seed Oregon State
Note: Dochterman has the winner of BYU-Alabama facing No. 2 seed Ohio State in the Rose Bowl in the CFP quarterfinals, and the winner of Utah-Oregon State facing No. 4 seed Miami in the Fiesta Bowl in the CFP quarterfinals.
Other Big 12 bowl projections
- Arizona: Las Vegas Bowl, vs. Texas
- Arizona State: Poinsettia Bowl, vs. Boise State
- Cincinnati: Independence Bowl, vs. California
- Houston: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. Virginia Tech
- Kansas State: Liberty Bowl, vs. Oklahoma
- Oklahoma State: Texas Bowl, vs. Tennessee
- Texas Tech: Alamo Bowl, vs. USC
- UCF: Boca Raton Bowl, vs. Miami (Ohio)
- West Virginia: Cactus Bowl, vs. Wisconsin
On3, Brett McMurphy
- BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 11 seed playing at No. 6 seed Kentucky
- Utah’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 5 seed hosting No. 12 seed Boise State
Note: McMurphy has Utah beating Boise State and advancing to the CFP quarterfinals before losing to No. 4 seed UCLA in the Fiesta Bowl.
Other Big 12 bowl projections
- Arizona: Alamo Bowl, vs. Oklahoma State
- Arizona State: Poinsettia Bowl, vs. Fresno State
- Cincinnati: Cactus Bowl, vs. Michigan
- Houston: Liberty Bowl, vs. Auburn
- Kansas State: Birmingham Bowl, vs. Mississippi State
- Oklahoma State: Alamo Bowl, vs. Arizona
- Texas Tech: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. SMU
- UCF: Texas Bowl, vs. Missouri
- West Virginia: Independence Bowl, vs. Pittsburgh
CBS Sports, Brad Crawford
- BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 8 seed hosting No. 9 seed LSU
- Utah’s bowl projection: CFP quarterfinals, No. 3 seed facing No. 11 seed Notre Dame in Rose Bowl
Other Big 12 bowl projections
- Arizona: Las Vegas Bowl, vs. Tennessee
- Baylor: Poinsettia Bowl, vs. Oregon State
- Cincinnati: Cactus Bowl, vs. Michigan
- Houston: Alamo Bowl, vs. Oregon
- Iowa State: First Responder Bowl, vs. North Texas
- Kansas State: Liberty Bowl, vs. Mississippi State
- Oklahoma State: Texas Bowl, vs. Oklahoma
- Texas Tech: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. SMU
- UCF: Armed Forces Bowl, vs. Army
- West Virginia: Independence Bowl, vs. California
College Football News, Pete Fiutak
- BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 6 seed hosting No. 11 seed Tennessee
- Utah’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 8 seed hosting No. 9 seed LSU
Other Big 12 bowl projections
- Arizona: Sun Bowl, vs. Virginia Tech
- Arizona State: Holiday Bowl, vs. Clemson
- Cincinnati: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. Wake Forest
- Houston: Alamo Bowl, vs. Oregon
- Kansas State: Cactus Bowl, vs. Northwestern
- Oklahoma State: Liberty Bowl, vs. Missouri
- Texas Tech: Texas Bowl, vs. Ole Miss
- UCF: Armed Forces Bowl, vs. Army
- West Virginia: Independence Bowl, vs. Oregon State
Athlon Sports, Steve Lassan
- BYU’s bowl projection: CFP quarterfinals, No. 4 seed facing No. 5 seed Indiana in Fiesta Bowl
- Utah’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 9 seed playing at No. 8 seed Kentucky
Other Big 12 bowl projections
- Arizona: Sun Bowl, vs. Clemson
- Arizona State: New Mexico Bowl, vs. New Mexico
- Cincinnati: Cactus Bowl, vs. Michigan
- Houston: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. SMU
- Kansas State: First Responder Bowl, vs. Illinois
- Oklahoma State: Texas Bowl, vs. Missouri
- Texas Tech: Alamo Bowl, vs. USC
- UCF: Independence Bowl, vs. Texas A&M
- West Virginia: Liberty Bowl, vs. South Carolina
