I heard DJ and PK talking about how unlikely BYU is of finishing in the top 4 while being an independent. They were saying that BYU is going to have to schedule some really difficult teams and then hope to go undefeated. What they were saying doesn't sound unreasonable to me. Yes if BYU wants to be in the top 4 they are going to have to schedule some really tough games and then win. I don't think that is any secret. That being said is it really then all that much different for Utah? For the utes to finish in the top 4 they would most likely have to win the Pac 12 in a year where the conference had some really good teams. For example it would probably have to be a year where Oregon and USC are going to be as good as they are this year. Utah would probably have to run the table and beat a top 5 ranked USC team and then get into the Pac 12 title game and beat an Oregon team also ranked in the top 5. Not to mention in the years where they have to play Oregon in the regular season and then if they happen to win the Pac south they could have to play Oregon again!

If it were just the conference champions of the top 4 BCS conferences and being ranked in the top 4 didn't matter then sure Utah would have an easier time getting in. The Pac 12 isn't all that great so maybe in a down year they win the league and get in because they won the conference. It just seems to me for Utah to finish in the top 4 in the country they are going to have to do some amazing things to get in. I am not seeing how it is all that much different than what BYU is going to have to do as an independent. I am just not seeing all that many years if ever that both Oregon and USC are incredible top 5 ranked teams and Utah is good enough to beat both of them!!

Maybe I am just not understanding the whole playoff system?? Someone please tell me what I am missing?