BYU enters national rankings at No. 23

PROVO, Utah — Coming off its victory over No. 18/21 Utah on Saturday, BYU has entered the national top-25 polls for the first time this season, receiving a No. 23 ranking in both the USA Today Coaches Poll and The Associated Press Top 25.

The Cougars are off to a 2-0 start with back-to-back wins over Pac-12 schools, Arizona and Utah. BYU, which accepted an invitation on Friday to join the Big 12 Conference starting in 2023, was last ranked in the final polls last season when the Cougars finished No. 11 in both national rankings with an 11-1 record.

Utah, after losing 26-17 to BYU on Saturday, dropped out of both top-25 rankings along with Texas and 2021 BYU opponent USC. Miami also fell out of the coaches’ rankings but received a No. 24 rating by AP this week, down two slots.   

On Saturday, BYU will host another nationally ranked opponent from the Pac-12 when No. 19/21 Arizona State comes to LaVell Edwards Stadium. The Sun Devils (2-0) defeated UNLV in Tempe on Saturday to improve to 2-0 and move up four spots in both polls this week, earning a No. 19 ranking by AP voters and the No. 21 slot from the coaches. 

Other teams entering this week’s polls along with BYU were Arkansas (No. 20 AP/No. 24 Coaches), Michigan (No. 25 both polls) and Auburn (No. 20 Coaches). The Tigers were previously ranked last week by AP and moved up three spots this week to No. 22.

The top-five teams this week according to the AP are Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon and Iowa, while the USA Today Coaches Poll agreed on the same top-four teams before voting Texas A&M as the No. 5 team.