# CFP Backup QB Rule Flipped

> Wake Forest and Boise State prove backup QBs can win with stellar play.
- Title: CFP Backup QB Rule Flipped · SI | Shortify
- Summary: Wake Forest and Boise State prove backup QBs can win with stellar play. College Football Playoff committee should reward teams with strong backup…
- Keywords: college football, wake forest, boise state, college football playoff, backup quarterback, week 10, steele pizzella, max cutforth, jordan travis, ohio state buckeyes
- Source: SI — https://si.com/college-football/wake-forest-and-boise-state-deserve-credit-for-what-cfp-says-it-values
- Published: 2026-11-09T19:42:48+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: college football, wake forest, boise state, college football playoff, backup quarterback, week 10, steele pizzella, max cutforth, jordan travis, ohio state buckeyes, sports
## CFP backup QB rule
The College Football Playoff committee has historically ignored backup quarterbacks since 2023 when Florida State was snubbed without Jordan Travis.

> The College Football Playoff committee can deny it, but they’re just not that into backup quarterbacks.
## Ohio State ranking
Committee ranked Ohio State 12th after Luke Fahey’s first start with Julian Sayin sidelined.

> They didn’t look like the same Ohio State team this past weekend
## Wake Forest backup QB
Steele Pizzella, who attempted just one pass in his career, led Wake Forest to a 77, 0 win over Merrimack.

> Jake Dickert’s squad, thanks to 432 yards and four total touchdowns by Pizzella, made the 46.5-point line look small in a 77, 0 evisceration of the Warriors
## Boise State backup QB
Max Cutforth led Boise State to a 64, 38 win over Colorado State with five touchdowns.

> Cutforth accounted for five total touchdowns and Boise State scored its most points in a road game in 74 years
## Week 10 performance
Both teams outperformed with backup quarterbacks in Week 10 after starters were injured.

> Two teams, and two backup quarterbacks, flipped the committee’s backup QB logic upside down with stellar play in Week 10
## Stellar play
Wake Forest obliterated opponents by 187, 31 in October with Pizzella at QB.

> It sure looked like the same Wake Forest team, which obliterated opponents by a combined margin of 187, 31 in October, with Pizzella at QB
## Boise State defense
Boise State’s defense surrendered 513 yards and 38 points to the Rams.

> The Broncos defense surrendered 513 yards and 38 points to the Rams
## Stellar performance
Boise State scored its most points in a road game in 74 years with Max Cutforth.

> Boise State didn’t just look the same, it scored the most points in a game this season as the offense hummed without Madsen
## Injury impact
Both teams have starters expected to return next week after injuries.

> Never mind that both Wake Forest’s Lopez and Boise State’s Madsen are expected to return to action next week
## CFP evaluation
The committee should reward teams with strong backup quarterbacks in its rankings.

> So if the committee truly wants to factor in backup QB play into its evaluations of teams, the Demon Deacons and Broncos should be rewarded come Tuesday night
## Key takeaway

College Football Playoff committee should reward teams with strong backup quarterbacks after Wake Forest and Boise State both outperformed with second-string QBs in Week 10.