PROVO, Utah — Coming off its 41-19 victory over Arizona on Saturday, BYU has risen in this week's two major polls released on Sunday.
The 6-0 Cougars advanced one position to No. 13 in The Associated Press Top 25 and jumped two spots to No. 13 in the American Football Coaches Association's US LBM Coaches Poll published by USA TODAY Sports.
BYU has been ranked in the last four national polls after first entering the top 25 at No. 22 in week five of the polls to receive a top-25 ranking for the first time since week five of the 2022 season.
This week's ranking for BYU is its highest in the AP Top 25 since being ranked No. 12 in the week three poll in 2022. It is also the highest Coaches Poll ranking since being No. 10 in week six of 2021.
In their second season in the BIg 12, the Cougars are currently 3-0 in conference play with Saturday's 41-19 win over Arizona, a wire-to-wire 34-28 road victory over favored Baylor in Waco, Texas, and a dominating 38-9 home truimph to hand nationally ranked Kansas State its only loss of the season.
The 6-0 start achieved by Kalani Sitake's team marks the sixth time in school history and second occasion under Sitake that the Cougars have earned a 6-0 record. The Cougars started 9-0 as an FBS independent program under Sitake in 2020 on their way to an 11-1 record and No. 11 final ranking. BYU also earned 6-0 records in 2008 (under Bronco Mendenhall), 2001 (under Gary Crowton), 1984 and 1979 (both under Hall of Fame coach LaVell Edwards).
Three Big 12 teams were placed in the top 25 by voters this week, while three other conference schools are receiving votes.
Iowa State (6-0), after defeating West Virginia on the road Saturday, is the highest ranked Big 12 team at No. 9 by AP and No. 12 by the coaches, followed by BYU at No. 13, and Kansas State (5-1) at No. 17.
Arizona State (5-1), Texas Tech (5-1) and Utah (4-2) are the other league teams receiving votes. BYU is not scheduled to face the Red Raiders but will see both the Utes and Sun Devils later in the regular season.
High-scoring SMU (5-1), who BYU kept out of the end zone in an 18-15 road win in week two, moved up in the rankings to No. 21/23 in the polls after a bye week.
Texas (6-0) remains the top team in both polls, while Oregon (6-0) moved to the No. 2 spot after its 32-31 victory over previously unbeaten Ohio State, who dropped to No. 4/5 in the polls. Penn State (6-0) is No. 3 after an overtime win at USC while Georgia remains in the top 5 (5/4) in the AP and Coaches polls.
This week's AP ranking marks BYU’s 283rd overall appearance in the AP poll.
The Cougars will host the Oklahoma State Cowboys Friday at 8:15 p.m. MT in LaVell Edwards Stadium. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.