BYU HC Kalani Sitake fires bold question to CFP committee amid questionable playoff spot after Big 12 Championship Game loss to Texas Tech

Kalani Sitake saw his BYU Cougars suffer a 34-7 blowout loss to the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders. The loss at AT&T Stadium extinguished No. 11 BYU's aim of winning its first Big 12 title.

While it marked just the second loss for BYU (11-2) this season, it places its College Football Playoff hopes in question. In his postgame press conference, Sitake fired a bold question to the selection committee, making a case for the Cougars’ inclusion in the playoff despite the loss.

“I think if you look at what Texas Tech's done, they're the best team in the country for a reason," Sitake said. "Their only loss came when they didn't have their starting quarterback, so that's difficult and on the road. But you look at when they're a full-strength team, they're dangerous.

“So I'm not on the playoff committee, but I can tell you one thing: Who's played the best team in the country twice? We have. Does that mean that you're not one of the best 12? I have no idea. I'm not on that committee. I don't make the decisions.”

Kalani Sitake’s Cougars were ranked No. 11 in the latest ranking, but a fall on selection day might see them miss the playoff. The No. 12 on the final CFP ranking is now certain to miss the playoff, as the last slot goes to the fifth-ranked conference champion.

Kalani Sitake believes teams will find out how good Texas Tech is in the playoff

Kalani Sitake had a lot of praise for the Joey McGuire-led Texas Tech Red Raiders following the Big 12 Championship Game. The coach believes they will be a force in the playoff.

“Others will find out," Sitake said. "That's the great thing about the playoffs. Everybody else will find out what we had to go against. I'm just really proud of our team, so I can't really speak for everybody else.

“But from seeing them twice and even the way that the games went and watching them and their response to some adversity. They played really strong, and so I'd love to have a third chance at it. But that's a really good team, and Joey's done a great job.”

Texas Tech has handed BYU both of its losses this season. The Cougars suffered a 29-7 loss to the Red Raiders early in November. Kalani Sitake’s team was held to just one score in both games. It is to be seen what the Red Raiders can do when the playoff kicks off later this month.