In a thrilling display of college football, the BYU Cougars soared in the national rankings following their hard-fought victory against the Utah Utes. With a score of 24-21, this was a noteworthy matchup as both teams were ranked in the top 25, making it a rare occurrence in their rivalry history. Coming into this game, BYU held the No. 15 spot in the Associated Press poll, while Utah was ranked No. 23.
BYU Climbs in Rankings After Week 8
After their impressive win, BYU improved their position significantly. The Cougars, now boasting a record of 7-0 and 4-0 in the Big 12, ascended four spots to No. 11 in the Associated Press rankings, amassing 975 points. They also moved up to No. 10 in the US LBM Coaches poll with 990 points.
This marks BYU’s highest ranking in nearly a year, reflecting their solid performance, especially since the last time they faced Utah, they defeated them 22-21, which propelled them to ranks as high as No. 6 in the College Football Playoff standings.
Utah’s Fall and Big 12 Rankings
In contrast, Utah, now at 5-2 and 2-2 in the Big 12, fell out of both national polls following their defeat. They had been positioned at No. 23 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the Coaches rankings. After the loss, they received 40 points in the AP poll and 51 in the Coaches rankings, placing them just outside the top 25.
Overview of Big 12 Teams Ranked After Week 8
Following Week 8, four teams from the Big 12 are ranked within the national top 25:
- BYU: No. 11 AP / No. 10 Coaches
- Texas Tech: No. 14 AP / No. 15 Coaches
- Cincinnati: No. 21 AP / No. 21 Coaches
- Arizona State: No. 24 AP / No. 25 Coaches
Texas Tech slipped to No. 14 in the AP poll and No. 15 in the Coaches after their first loss of the season to Arizona State, whose victory placed them back in the rankings. Cincinnati maintained an unbeaten record in the league by defeating Oklahoma State and clinching the No. 21 spot in both polls.
Top Teams in the AP and Coaches Polls
The top five teams in the latest AP rankings are as follows:
- No. 1: Ohio State
- No. 2: Indiana
- No. 3: Texas A&M
- No. 4: Alabama
- No. 5: Georgia
Ohio State held their ground at No. 1, thanks to a decisive 34-0 victory over Wisconsin. The rankings saw changes as Ole Miss fell to No. 8 and Miami dropped to No. 9 after both teams suffered losses. Louisville’s strong performance against Miami allowed them to jump into the rankings at No. 19.
In the Coaches poll, the top five teams mirrored the AP rankings closely, with Ohio State also at No. 1. As the college football season progresses, these rankings will be pivotal for the teams as they vie for postseason opportunities.
