PETE: Ratings differences aside, the one that matters most is by the College Football Playoff committee

I’m trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Iowa State football can legitimately not lose a regular-season game. I mean, really. At 7-0 and with the toughest part of the 12-game schedule remaining – this eventuality, yeah, it’s very real.

I mean, 12-0 – after winning just two games (neither of which was against a Big 12 Conference opponent) 10 years ago . . .

Undefeated -- with a selfless roster that’s beaten everyone, unleashing a collective brand of talent, togetherness and determination. This team that Matt Campbell so wisely leads expects to win. It respects what makes it successful, and it does it  . . .

With a coach who gets so much out of practice, that it’d make your head spin – and whose navigational skills of turning around adversity, is second to none . . .

And with a first-time offensive coordinator whose playbook includes successful plays and play sequences rarely seen among Cyclone Nation (and regular opponents) in recent seasons.

I mean, sure, 12-0 is a longshot, but it’s a do-able longshot – as are all the wonderful rewards that accompany it.

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HERE’S THE MAP

Texas Tech (3-2, 5-3) at 2:30 p.m., Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium: ESPN’s college football predictor has the Cyclones 81.5% to win. It’s Iowa State’s Homecoming, and it’s the first day game since I can’t remember.

Kansas (1-4, 2-6) at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City: This should be a home game-like environment for the Cyclones. The Jayhawks are one of the two most disappointing teams in the conference. The other is Oklahoma State.

Cincinnati (3-2, 5-3) at Jack Trice Stadium: Former Cyclones linebackers coach Tyson Veidt is the Bearcats’ defensive coordinator. Iowa State won at Cincinnati 30-10 last season.

At Utah (1-4, 4-4) at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake: The media picked the Utes to win the Big 12. The media also had Oklahoma State third, Kansas fourth and Iowa State sixth. Well, the pre-season favorite has lost four straight games, the last two after starting quarterback Cameron Rising was declared out for the season with injury.

Kansas State (4-1, 7-1) at Jack Trice Stadium: The Wildcats have won four in a row, after a 38-9 loss at BYU. There could be many postseason possibilities at stake in this classic of a game.

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WHAT’S THE BYU LOVE ALL ABOUT?

That’s easy. In this analytics world in which we live, the unbeaten Cougars’ two wins against rateds Kansas State and SMU stick out, as does Iowa State not having a victory against a team presently in the rankings.

That was evident with the Associated Press media poll Sunday, when BYU rose two spots, to ninth, while idle Iowa State fell a rung into a tie for 11th. Sure, it’s a small difference, and they were flipped on the coaches’ poll – Iowa State 10th and BYU 12.

Again, the only poll that will matter is the one comprised by the College Football Playoff committee. Their first rankings come out on Nov. 5, and will clearly overshadow the other major voting event that happens that day (mildly kidding).

Of the Cyclones’ five remaining opponents, only Kansas State resides in the most recent Top 25 – 15th by the coaches and 17th by the AP.

That’s not Iowa State’s fault. Iowa was 21st in the Week Two rankings – before losing against the unranked Cyclones in Iowa City. The 5-3 Hawkeyes have dropped from the rankings, while Iowa State has been in the past eight Top 25s, and the past three Top Tens.

While Iowa State’s finishing schedule is above, BYU has remaining games on the road against Utah and Arizona State, and at home against Kansas and Houston. None are ranked, and like Iowa State’s situation – that’s not the Cougars’ fault.

It’s too early for coming up with those popular if, then College Football Playoffs situations. If you’re a Cyclones fan, you might want to consider just hoping Iowa returns to the rankings, BYU loses a game, Iowa State wins the rest of its games, and does so impressively.

And, of course, win the Big 12 Conference championship game – and earn the CFP berth that goes with it.