BYU makes significant jump in national rankings

PROVO, Utah — With its second-straight victory over a ranked opponent, BYU made the biggest jump in this week's national rankings, moving up to No. 15 in The Associated Press Top 25 and No. 16 in the USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.

The only team in the country with three wins over Power 5 opponents, the Cougars rose eight spots in the AP poll and seven places in the coaches' rankings after defeating No. 19 Arizona State on Saturday to improve to 3-0 on the season. BYU, who entered the rankings last week at No. 23, has opened the year with wins over Arizona, Utah and ASU of the Pac-12 to mark the first time in program history the Cougars have defeated Power 5 opponents over three consecutive weeks in the same season. 

BYU boasts 30 wins over a Power 5 school since 2003, the most of any team not in a P5 conference. The Cougars recently accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference starting in 2023.

The top five this week according to AP voters are Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, Oklahoma and Iowa, with Oregon and Oklahoma swapping positions. The AFCA Coaches Poll maintained its same top-five teams from last week with top-ranked Alabama followed by Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas A&M.

This week BYU will host South Florida of the American Athletic Conference in LaVell Edwards Stadium. The game will be nationally featured on ESPN2 in an 8:15 kick.