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Brigham Young University

BYU Football Enters Top-25 Rankings in AP and Coaches Polls

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

BYU's 3-0 start to the season has led to the team's entrance into the top-25 rankings in both major national polls. The Cougars received a No. 25 ranking from AP voters and were rated one spot higher at No. 24 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. This marks the first time this year BYU has been ranked by AP, after lingering just outside the media's top 25 all season. The Cougars have been ranked this year during four of the five polls released by the coaches.

Key Takeaways:

  • BYU football entered the top-25 rankings in both major national polls on Sunday, with a No. 25 ranking from AP voters and a No. 24 ranking in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
  • The Cougars (3-0) received their first AP ranking of the season, after being just outside the media's top 25 all season.
  • BYU has been ranked this year during four of the five polls released by the coaches, with a preseason ranking of No. 23 and subsequent rankings of No. 25.
  • The team boasts one of the nation's top defenses, having surrendered only 16 total points over three games (5.3 points allowed per game).
  • The Cougars' defense is tied with No. 1 Ohio State for the fewest points allowed this season, with a fewest points allowed by a Big 12 team through three games since TCU set the conference record in 2012.
  • BYU has been ranked 293 times in the AP poll since their first national ranking in 1974.
  • The team will face Colorado in their Big 12 opener in Boulder on Saturday, September 27, which will be televised at 8:15 p.m. MT on ESPN.
  • TCU and Texas Tech also joined BYU as Big 12 teams ranked in the top-25, with TCU ranked No. 24 AP/No. 25 AFCA and Texas Tech ranked No. 12 AP/No. 14 AFCA.
  • The AFCA poll had TCU as No. 24, with BYU ranked No. 25, while the AP poll had the teams swapped in rankings.

Statistics:

  • BYU has been ranked 293 times in the AP poll since their first national ranking in 1974.
  • The Cougars have been ranked in the top-25 in four of the five polls released by the coaches this season.
  • The team has surrendered only 16 total points over three games (5.3 points allowed per game).
  • The BYU defense is tied with No. 1 Ohio State for the fewest points allowed this season.
  • The fewest points allowed by a Big 12 team through three games of a season is a conference record, set by TCU in 2012.

Sources:

  • BYU Athletics news release
  • Associated Press (AP) poll
  • AFCA Coaches Poll

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