Coaches Pick BYU No. 24 in Preseason Poll

PROVO -- For the second consecutive year BYU will enter the season ranked among the nation's top-25 teams. The Cougars enter the 2009 season ranked No. 24 according to the USA Today Coaches Poll.

Last year, BYU ranked No. 17 in the preseason Coaches’ poll after going unranked in the preseason since 1997. The Cougars finished 2008 with a 10-3 record and a No. 21 national ranking.

BYU has been ranked in both the Coaches’ poll and AP Top-25 each week dating back to Nov. 18, 2007 following a 35-10 win over Wyoming.

Also representing the Mountain West Conference in the poll is TCU at No. 17 and Utah at No. 18. This is the first time in the Bowl Championship Series era that three teams from a non-automatic-qualifying conference have appeared in the preseason Coaches’ poll.

BYU's schedule this year features four top-25 teams. Along with TCU and Utah, the Cougars also face No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 19 Florida State in nonconference play.

Florida topped the poll at No. 1 followed by Texas at No. 2. After Oklahoma, USC and Alabama round out the top five.

A total of 59 head football coaches from around the country participate in the weekly poll--one of two national polls used to help calculate the BCS Standings.

The Cougars open the 2009 season in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 5 against No. 3 Oklahoma. The Sooners put together a 12-2 season in 2008 and earned a No. 5 national ranking after losing to Florida in the BCS championship game. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT) and will be broadcast on ESPN as part of the second annual ESPN Kickoff Week.

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