Heading into championship weekend, here’s why BYU — win, lose or draw this weekend — is one of the best stories in college football.

• From out of nowhere to College Football Playoff contender. The Cougars were unranked in the preseason rankings. They were unranked after Week 1, too. And Week 2. And Week 3. And Week 4.

The Cougs had to work hard to get someone to notice them. They finally cracked the AP Top 25 in Week 5 — at No. 25. In the ensuing weeks, they were ranked, in order, 23, 18, 15, 11, 10, 8, 12, 11, 11, 11. They are 11-1 heading into Saturday’s Big 12 championship game against Texas Tech, which handed them their only loss of the season. BYU is one win away from the College Football Playoff.

• The teenager at quarterback. An 18-year-old can’t buy or consume alcohol, gamble

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