BYU ranked No. 25 in Associated Press preseason poll

PROVO, Utah – After back-to-back seasons finishing ranked in the final polls, the BYU football team came in at No. 25 in the preseason college football Associated Press Top 25 released Monday. 

With the majority of starters returning, including quarterback Jaren Hall, a loaded offensive line and a healthy defense, BYU is equipped to make noise throughout the year in the polls thanks to a challenging schedule featuring four teams ranked in the preseason Top 25 with another two receiving votes. 

A pair of teams had top-10 rankings, including Notre Dame (Oct. 8 in Las Vegas) at No. 5 and No. 10 Baylor (home opener, Sept. 10). Oregon (Sept. 17) checked in at No. 11 and Arkansas (Oct. 15) of the SEC at No. 19. Boise State (Nov. 5) received five votes and Utah State (Oct. 29) picked up two. 

The program makes its first appearance in the preseason poll since 2009 when BYU was No. 20 in the preseason rankings. The Cougars finished the year at No. 12 with an 11-2 record. BYU went on a run of five consecutive preseason rankings from 1989 to 1993.

The Cougars have now been ranked in 12 preseason AP Top 25 polls, dating back to the program's first preseason appearance in 1981 at No. 16, following a 1980 season when the team won the Holiday Bowl behind Jim McMahon's last-minute heroics against SMU and finished ranked No. 12. 

BYU made its first appearance in the AP poll at any time at No. 20 on Nov. 25, 1974. 

The Cougars are among six Big 12 teams, including new 2023 entries, which found favor in the Top 25. No. 9 Oklahoma leads the way with No. 10 Baylor, the reigning Big 12 champ and No. 12 Oklahoma State as the league's top three schools. Newcomers No. 23 Cincinnati, No. 24 Houston and No. 25 BYU round out the AP Top 25. Texas and Kansas State both were on the outside looking in receiving votes.