BYU Ranked No. 20 in Preseason AP Poll

PROVO -- One of three Mountain West Conference schools ranked among the nation's top-25 teams, BYU enters the season nationally ranked in both major college football polls for the second consecutive year. The Cougars are ranked No. 20 in The Associated Press Top 25 released Saturday after receiving a No. 24 preseason ranking in the USA Today Coaches Poll earlier this month.

Last year, BYU ranked No. 16 in the preseason AP poll and No. 17 in the preseason Coaches’ poll after going unranked in the preseason polls since 1997. The Cougars finished 2008 with a 10-3 record and a No. 21 national ranking in the Coaches' poll and No. 25 ranking by AP. 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 AP poll is TCU at No. 17 and Utah at No. 19. 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 AP poll and the preseason Coaches’ poll.

BYU's schedule this year features four teams in the preseason AP Top 25 released Saturday. Along with MWC foes TCU and Utah, the Cougars also face No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 18 Florida State in nonconference play.

Reigning national champion Florida topped the AP poll at No. 1 followed by Texas at No. 2. After third-ranked Oklahoma, USC and Alabama round out the top five, exactly reflecting the top five in the Coaches' poll.

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) in the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN as part of the second annual ESPN Kickoff Week.

CLICK HERE to view entire AP poll

CLICK HERE to view entire Coaches poll