This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah's softball team became the school's eighth to be among the nation's top 25 at some point this season when the 33-16 Utes were ranked No. 24 in the ESPN/USA Softball Top 25 on Tuesday.
It's the first ranking for the Utes since a preseason No. 25 ranking in January 2001 USA Today poll. They were No. 20 in the final 2000 USA Today poll, and their last in-season top-25 ranking came in the February 1998 USA Today poll.
The Utes were No. 27 in this week's USA Today poll, which The Tribune traditionally uses. More importantly, Utah's RPI is No. 27 with just one series left against No. 20 Washington (May 7-9 at Dumke Family Stadium) and in great position to land an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament.
Other Utah teams to crack the top-25 this year:
• Utah's football team finished No. 21 in the final AP poll, No. 20 in the final USA Today poll and No. 22 in the final College Football Playoff rankings. The Utes were No. 18 in both polls and 17th in the first CFP rankings after beating USC.
• The Runnin' Utes finished No. 19 in the final regular season AP Poll and No. 15 in the postseason USA Today Coaches Poll after losing to Duke in the Sweet Sixteen. They were ranked as high as No. 8 in the AP poll during the regular season.
• The Red Rocks finished No. 3 in the final GymInfo poll and runners-up at the national championships.
• Utah's women's volleyball team finished No. 18 in the final AVCA Coaches Poll, losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
• Utah's women's soccer team was No. 19 in the NSCAA Coaches poll after drawing Stanford in the 10th game of the season.
• Utah's men's swimming team was ranked No. 20 in the final CSCAA Poll and finished No. 22 at the national championships.
• Utah's ski team finished No. 3 at the national championships and in the final SYNC Ski Coaches Poll.
— Matthew Piper
Twitter: @matthew_piper