BYU maintains No. 8 national ranking

PROVO, Utah — Following its 66-14 victory over North Alabama on Saturday, BYU maintained its No. 8 ranking in the national polls released Sunday. The Cougars are one of five undefeated teams ranked among the top eight teams in both The Associated Press Top 25 and Amway Coaches Poll.

Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Zach Wilson has led the Cougars to the program's first 9-0 start since 2001 and the fourth time overall in school history. BYU also won their first nine games in 1979 and 1984. 

All the teams ranked ahead of the Cougars also stayed in their respective rankings from a week ago. Alabama (7-0) again claimed the top spot by the AP voters followed by Notre Dame (8-0), Ohio State (4-0), Clemson (7-1), Texas A&M (5-1), Florida (6-1), Cincinnati (8-0) and BYU (9-0). Oregon (3-0) and Miami (7-1) each moved up two places to compete the AP's top 10. 

The coaches again have Florida and Texas A&M differing from AP at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, while their top nine teams stayed the same with Georgia (5-2) moving into the No. 10 slot. 

The Cougars have been ranked No. 8 the past three weeks. BYU's No. 8 ranking this season boasts the program's highest placement in the respective polls since earning a No. 7 ranking in AP in 2009 and being rated No. 7 by the coaches in 2008.  

BYU has been ranked in each of the 11 regular-season polls released this year. The last time the Cougars were ranked in 11 consecutive weeks during a season was in 2008 when BYU was ranked in all 17 polls of the season to bridge a string of 29 consecutive weeks ranked from Nov. 18, 2007 to Oct. 18, 2009. 

Prior to 2020, the last time BYU was ranked in the top 25 was during the 2018 season when the Cougars were ranked as high as No. 20 after starting the season 3-1 with a victories over Arizona on the road and No. 6 Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium. 

In the NCAA statistical rankings, BYU is the only FBS team ranked in the top 10 in scoring offense (4th; 47.6 ppg), scoring defense (5th; 13.9 ppg), total offense (7th; 535.8 ypg) and total defense (7th; 292.6 ypg). BYU's explosive offense is also apparent in the rankings of chunk plays downfield.  The Cougars rank No. 1 in plays of 30 or more yards and No. 2 in both plays of 10 or more yards and 20 or more yards. BYU's leads the nation with the most passing plays of more than 10 yards. 

Triggering that attack is Wilson, who ranks No. 1 in points responsible for (208), No. 2 in passing touchdowns (26), No. 2 in passing efficiency (205.3), No. 3 in passing yards (2,724), No. 3 in passing yards per attempt (11.49), No. 4 in completion percentage (.743), No. 7 in points responsible for per game (23.1), No. 8 in passing yards per completion (15.48), No. 11 in total offense (323.9) and No. 14 in passing yards per game (302.7).  

BYU's next scheduled game is on Dec. 12 against San Diego State in LaVell Edwards Stadium.