PROVO, Utah — BYU dropped seven spots in the two major national polls released on Sunday after suffering defeat for the first time on Saturday, receiving rankings of No. 14 and No. 15, respectively, in The Associated Press Top 25 and the AFCA's US LBM Coaches Poll published by USA TODAY Sports.
Among the 134 FBS programs, BYU (9-1) became the 131st to ultimately taste defeat in 2024, leaving just three teams unbeaten with Oregon (11-0), Indiana (10-0) and Army (9-0) still without a loss. The Cougars lost by a 17-13 tally to Kansas late Saturday night with the Jayhawks go-ahead score coming on a 1-play, 3-yard fourth quarter drive after a quick-kick punt on an apparent fourth down try hit a BYU cornerback's helmet in coverage of a KU receiver, which Kansas recovered near the end zone. The victory was KU's second straight top-25 upset after defeting Iowa State 45-36 the prior week.
Oregon remains No. 1 this week in both polls, which agreed on the top nine teams. Ohio State (9-1), Texas (9-1), Penn State (9-1) and Indiana (10-0) complete the top five, followed by Notre Dame (9-1), Alabama (8-2), Georgia (8-2) and Ole Miss (8-2). Another 8-2 SEC team, Tennessee, is No. 10 in AP, while the AFCA poll gives the nod to the ACC's 9-1 Miami Hurricanes.
The third College Football Playoff rankings will be revealed on Tuesday evening at 5 p.m. on ESPN. The Cougars were ranked No. 9 and No. 6 in the first two CFP rankings released this season.
This week's AP ranking marks BYU’s 288th overall appearances in the AP poll since its first national ranking in 1974. Since that season 50 years ago, BYU has ammassed 440 victories to rank No. 8 in total wins among all FBS programs in that timeframe.
The Cougars have been ranked in the last nine national polls since entering the top 25 this season 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.
In their second season in the Big 12, the Cougars are currently tied atop the league standings at 6-1 in conference play along with Colorado (8-2, 6-1), who moved up two spots in the polls this week to No. 16 and No. 18 in AP and the AFCA, respectively.
Overall, four Big 12 teams are ranked in the two major polls with BYU's next opponent, Arizona State (8-2) and Iowa State (8-2) ranked No. 21 and No. 22 in the polls with the AP giving the nod to the Sun Devils and the Cyclones getting the higher ranking from the coaches. Arizona State entered the polls this week while Kansas State (7-3), still receiving votes in AP, dropped out for the first time this season.
BYU will travel to face Arizona State in a key conference matchup this Saturday in Tempe, with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m. MT/3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.