Arizona State's commanding victory over Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship has ignited a debate: does their impressive late-season run, capped by this dominant performance, warrant a coveted top-four spot in the College Football Playoff? The CFP selection committee faces a tough decision.

Entering the conference championship weekend, ASU trailed Boise State by five spots in the playoff rankings. Boise State, ranked tenth, played in the Mountain West title game, and some projections placed them at number four. The new 12-team playoff format dictates that the top four seeds must be conference champions.

Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham celebrates after winning the Big 12 championship game against the Iowa State Cyclones, Dec. 7, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (Tim Heitman/Imagn Images)

Should Boise State secure a higher ranking than the Big 12 champion, they would claim the fourth seed. Following ASU's first Big 12 title win, head coach Kenny Dillingham emphasized the Sun Devils' 11-2 record, sending a direct message to the selection committee.

Dillingham drew a comparison to last year's Florida State team, which went undefeated in the regular season and won the ACC championship but was dropped to fifth in the final playoff rankings due to an injury to their starting quarterback, Jordan Travis. Dillingham highlighted ASU’s 11-1 record with their starting quarterback and argued for consideration based on that performance.

Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham stands on the sideline during a game against the Iowa State Cyclones, Dec. 7, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (Tim Heitman/Imagn Images)

Several key Florida State players subsequently opted out of the Orange Bowl, resulting in a significant loss to Georgia. ASU’s only losses this season were a 24-14 defeat against Cincinnati (in which quarterback Sam Leavitt didn’t play) and a 30-22 road loss to Texas Tech in September.

The Arizona State Sun Devils celebrate after they defeated the Iowa State Cyclones, Dec. 7, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

The final playoff rankings, which determine the top four seeds receiving a first-round bye, will be revealed Sunday night.