BYU fans woke up this week to an unexpected narrative on ESPN’s Get Up: the idea that the Cougars might “steal” a College Football Playoff spot from Notre Dame or Miami. The segment included a graphic questioning whether BYU’s résumé was truly worthy of the three teams, framing the Cougars as potential interlopers rather than legitimate contenders.
It didn’t take long for BYU fans, and eventually the BYU Football program itself, to respond.
The BYU vs Miami/Notre Dame Twitter Debate
During the Get Up discussion, a graphic sparked debate about whether BYU could potentially steal a CFP spot away from Notre Dame and Miami, prompting an immediate reaction across social media. One BYU fan’s response quickly gained traction:
Oh my gosh…STEAL???
BYU is the team that’s EARNED it! pic.twitter.com/I73hPcrJh6
— Jason Shepherd (@jsnshep) December 4, 2025
That sentiment echoed the growing feeling among Cougar fans that the national media continues to undervalue what has quietly become one of the strongest résumés in college football.
Not long after, the official BYU Football account posted a pointed response of its own. Quote-tweeting the segment, BYU added a single word:
“Stealing” https://t.co/XTkZo9fUuH pic.twitter.com/IKRZZTPV7P
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) December 4, 2025
Attached was a graphic comparing the résumés of BYU, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Miami, one that told a very different story than ESPN’s segment.
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And the numbers back it up.
The Résumé Comparison: BYU Stacks Up Better Than the Narrative
According to the graphic and supporting data, BYU holds advantages across multiple measurable categories:
Record and Strength of Record
- BYU: 11–1, No. 6 Strength of Record
- Notre Dame: Worse record, lower SOR
- Miami: Worse record, lower SOR
- Alabama: Also behind BYU in SOR
BYU’s 11–1 mark and top-six SOR place them ahead of all three comparison teams. The idea that they would be “stealing” a spot from anyone ignores the reality of what they’ve accomplished.
Top-25 Wins
- BYU: 2–1 vs Top-25 opponents
- Alabama: 2–1
- Notre Dame: 1-2
- Miami: 1-0
The Cougars match Alabama and hold an edge over Notre Dame and Miami.
Advanced Grade Comparisons
Critics pointed to BYU’s perceived lack of high-end roster strength, but the data tells a different story.
PFSN Team Impact Grades (Offense / Defense):
- Notre Dame: 88.4 / 87.5
- Miami: 84.6 / 89.5
- BYU: 83.6 / 87.3
All three programs are closely clustered, with none significantly separating themselves from BYU in either category.
Strength of Schedule
Where BYU does separate itself is in SOS, a metric that many analysts often overlook.
- BYU: 12.94 (highest of the three)
- Notre Dame: 12.23
- Miami: 11.73
Despite claims that the Cougars benefit from playing in the Big 12, the numbers show they actually played the toughest schedule among the three programs in question.
Conference Championship Appearance Matters
Beyond analytics, BYU has an additional résumé booster neither Notre Dame nor Miami can claim: a conference championship appearance.
- BYU: Playing for the Big 12 title vs Texas Tech
- Notre Dame: Independent so no conference title game
- Miami: Missed the ACC Championship despite a down year for the conference
The irony? Despite being dismissed due to their conference affiliation, BYU is the only team among the three competing for a conference championship. And in Miami’s case, their conference is on shaky ground, with the possibility of a Duke upset creating an outright disaster scenario for the ACC.
Far From “Stealing”, BYU Has Earned Its Place
The numbers, metrics, schedule, and wins all point in the same direction: BYU isn’t an outsider hoping someone else slips up. They are a legitimate contender with a résumé that, in many areas, outshines the programs ESPN claimed.
Whether or not the CFP committee ultimately rewards the Cougars, their performance this season doesn’t fit the narrative of a dark-horse interloper. It fits the profile of a team that belongs in the conversation and one that has fully earned its seat at the table. If anything is being “stolen,” it’s the credit BYU deserves.
