PROVO, Utah — After improving to 7-0 with its win over No. 23/22 Utah on Saturday night, BYU moved up four spots in both major national polls released on Sunday, receiving a No. 11 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 while entering the top 10 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
Media voters advanced the Cougars from their previous No. 15 ranking to No. 11 while the coaches similarly jumped BYU four places from last week's No. 14 ranking to No. 10 in this week's poll.
While staying unbeaten on the season, BYU achieved its third straight victory over in-state rival Utah in a 24-21 tally to claim the program's first three-game streak in the series since winning four consecutive over the Utes from 1989-92. The win also marks the first back-to-back seasons with 7-0 starts in BYU history and the third time head coach Kalani Sitake has guided his teams to undefeated records through seven games. Historically, the Cougars have started started 7-0 during six seasons (2025, 2024, and 2020 under Sitake; 2001 under Gary Crowton; and 1984 and 1979 under Hall of Fame coach LaVell Edwards).
This week's rankings are the highest BYU has received since being ranked No. 7 by AP and No. 8 by the coaches with a 9-0 record in week 12 last season. The Cougars have been ranked 297 times overall in the AP poll since the program's first national ranking in 1974.
BYU (7-0, 4-0 BIg 12) is now the top ranked team among four Big 12 programs in this week's top 25. Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1) fell seven places in both polls to No. 14 (AP) and No. 15 (AFCA) after suffering its first loss of the season in a 26-22 setback at Arizona State on Saturday. The Sun Devils (5-2, 3-1) re-entered the top 25 with the victory, landing at No. 24 in AP and No. 25 in the AFCA. Cincinnati (6-1, 4-0), meanwhile, moved up three spots to No. 21 in both national rankings after its sixth straight win.
Utah (5-2, 2-2) fell out of the top 25 among four additional Big 12 teams that received votes in the polls, joined by Houston (6-1, 3-1), TCU (5-2, 2-2) and BYU's upcoming opponent Iowa State (5-2, 2-2). BYU travels to face the Cyclones this Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, for a 2:30 p.m. CT kick being broadcast nationally on FOX.
Ohio State (7-0) was again the top-ranked team in both polls by the voters, who agreed on the top nine teams. Indiana (7-0) is ranked No. 2 followed by Texas A&M (7-0), Alabama (6-1), and Georgia (6-1) to round out the top five, while Oregon (6-1), Georgia Tech (7-0), Ole MIss (6-1) and Miami (5-1) occupy Nos. 6-9, respectively. The Cougars got the No. 10 nod by the coaches while Vanderbilt (6-1) received the No. 10 ranking just in front of BYU from media voters. The Hurricanes and Rebels both fell out of the top five after suffering their first losses of the season.
This week BYU returns to the road for its fourth away matchup of the season at Iowa State. This year the Cougars have road victories at East Carolina (34-13), Colorado (24-21) and Arizona in double overtime (33-27) along with home wins over Portland State (69-0), Stanford (27-3), West Virginia (38-24) and No. 23/22 Utah (24-21).