The latest Big 12 playoff and bowl projections have been significantly influenced by the Utah-BYU rivalry game played on November 7, 2026, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
In a key moment, BYU Cougars safety Raider Damuni was unable to bring down Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier, who scored a touchdown during the contest. The outcome of the game has prompted analysts to revise their postseason forecasts for both programs.
Deseret News reporter Brandon Judd detailed the implications in a story published on November 12, 2026, examining how the result reshapes the conference's playoff picture and potential bowl destinations.
