1. BYU is way underrated. They should probably should be around #12-#13, maybe #14 at the outside. They have no business being six places behind #12 Miami that has an identical record and close resume. In fact, the rankings of Boise State (a G5 with a loss) and Miami all year reflect a bias toward single dynamic playmakers over total teams. Notre Dame with a loss to NIU at #4 is a joke. Indiana should probably be higher. BYU should be above, or at least in the same mix with Alabama, South Carolina, and Ole Miss. Not one of those teams has shown themselves to be better than BYU, and they have three losses. Arizona State at #15 is ridiculous, as well. The fact that the Big 12's Top three teams are #15, #16, and #18, all with two losses is criminal.

2. BYU had it all. They had a two game lead over every other team in the Big 12 going into Week 2 in November. They were ranked #6. If they just beat Kansas, they would be in the playoff — perhaps even if they lost the CCG. If they actually played the first half against Arizona State and beat Kansas, they would be one of only two undefeated teams in the country and likely ranked #3 with a first round bye. The were two plays away from this scenario. The very fact that they were only two plays away, however, also gives further credence to the notion that they are currently vastly under ranked.

Finally, a couple side thoughts . . .
BYU was helped by playing exciting games and coming out on top, but also hurt much more by doing the same and coming out on bottom. BYU, apparently, doesn't get the "good loss" treatment that other teams get.
BYU needed to play four quarters in their games and not slow down the pace so much. I realize that this may be to prevent injury, but it seems in this brave new world we need to demonstrate depth and play fast, hard, and dominate on the scoreboard. A simple win is not enough, unless that is against very good to great teams. Look at Indiana; they left no doubt against the teams that should have beaten.
BYU should probably be a little more circumspect about how much national press they want their players doing during the season. BYU players, and especially Jake Retzlaff, were every where when BYU was 9-0 doing interviews. It becomes very easy to believe your own press clippings. BYU looked like "they lost of the eye of the tiger/cougar" against Kansas. I even heard a rumor that players always believed that "they would just win it in the last seconds" as they had done.

Finally (really this time), BYU needs to take the approach that this was NOT a one-off season of luck, but that this is the new norm of how BYU will compete in the Big 12. But a philosophy needs to change. In the past our coaches have played a little too conservative against power conference teams, thinking that we couldn't dominate them because of their inherent advantages in depth, players, etc. This was most prevalent in game planning against Utah (this year it still was). Now is the time to plan our game plans as a peer power team and plan to dominate. Our defense is good enough now to account for an offense that attacks for four quarters. We don't need to be conservative; we need to take the next step in our journey and become dominant.