Can a Group of Five team make the College Football Playoff again?

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Sep 3, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Jaren Hall (3) hands the ball off to wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) against the South Florida Bulls during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports /

3. BYU Cougars (1-0)

The Cougars can either solidify their spot in the College Football Playoff with their schedule or do themselves in early. Keep in mind, that the Cougars are Independent, so they are technically neither a Group of Five nor a Power Five team. However, they’re usually lumped in with the Group of Five.

The Cougars were dominant against the South Florida Bulls in their season opener but jump right into the fire with consecutive games against No. 10 Baylor and No. 11 Oregon. BYU then opens the month of October with No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 19 Arkansas. If the Cougars can somehow win all four games, they’re definitely in the Playoff.

2. UCF Knights (1-0)

The Knights romped in their season opener, dominating the South Carolina State Bulldogs 56-10. Mississippi transfer quarterback John Rhys Plumlee is the perfect Gus Malzahn quarterback, and he proved so in his opening performance.

The Knights’ schedule sets up perfectly for a College Football Playoff run this season. Their schedule does not have the degree of difficulty the Cougars have with one ranked team on its schedule (#23 Cincinnati). UCF also has two Power Five opponents on its schedule (Louisville and Georgia Tech).

Most important, the Knights play in the American Athletic Conference, the most difficult Group of Five conference in the country.

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