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Provo • An unsatisfying performance against Houston in Thursday's 33-25 win didn't stop the BYU Cougars from making a substantial leap in the Associated Press Top 25 college football poll.
BYU is ranked No. 21 in the poll released Sunday afternoon, up from No. 25.
The Cougars (3-0) are the only team not in a Power 5 conference that is ranked. Fellow independent Notre Dame ranked ninth, but the Irish are considered a Power 5 school.
The Cougars moved into the Amway Coaches Poll, landing at No. 23. Last week they were No. 27 in that poll.
Having outlasted Houston 33-25 on Thursday, the Cougars got the weekend off and will play host to surprising Virginia on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MT at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The game will be televised by ESPN.
Virginia (2-1) upset then-No. 21 Lousville 23-21 on Saturday, its first win over a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent since knocking off the Cougars 19-16 last year. The Cavaliers received six votes in the AP poll.
"I am very excited about that football game [against Virginia]," BYU quarterback Taysom Hill said. "I don't know if I want to say revenge, or whatever, but I am very excited to play Virginia again. I have watched the tape, and I have watched some of their games on TV, and they have a good defense. It's a good football team. So it will be a good challenge for us."
Twitter: @drewjay