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Provo • Voters in college football's two major polls didn't forget the BYU Cougars, who were idle this past weekend.

The undefeated Cougars (4-0) moved up from No. 20 to No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, and from No. 21 to No. 19 in the Amway USA Today Coaches Poll.

The Cougars are one of 17 undefeated teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), which was previously known as Division I.

Last Monday, the last time he spoke to local media members, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said he battles every day to keep his team focused on the next opponent, instead of the big picture.

The Cougars play host to Utah State (2-2) on Friday at 8:15 MDT at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

"It is still basically a one week play-in, week by week, for us in the current [college football playoff] system," Mendenhall said. "Who knows? If there is a team this year that is outside of the Power 5 that wins them all, I don't know what will happen. It will be fun to see. I would like to be that team. But right now, it is bye week, then Utah State, and that's enough."

Asked if there was a single concern, or worry, that keeps him away at night, Mendenhall said it is "managing" the outside influences on his players.

"Just for it to be week No. 4, and for us to be working as hard as we are at keeping it in the moment for our team," he said. "Probably because of the playoff format, and the attention on who might be in that, has kind of elevated everything and we are somewhat considered after four games, which again is way premature. Managing all that has been a lot so far."

drew@sltrib.com

Twitter: @drewjay —

AP Top 25

Record Pts Pv

1. Florida St. (27) 4-0 1,416 1

2. Oregon (13) 4-0 1,405 2

3. Alabama (13) 4-0 1,387 3

4. Oklahoma (7) 4-0 1,357 4

5. Auburn 4-0 1,272 5

6. Texas A&M 5-0 1,206 6

7. Baylor 4-0 1,149 7

8. UCLA 4-0 975 11

9. Notre Dame 4-0 972 8

10. Michigan St. 3-1 944 9

11. Mississippi 4-0 906 10

12. Mississippi St. 4-0 848 14

13. Georgia 3-1 788 12

14. Stanford 3-1 643 16

15. LSU 4-1 636 17

16. Southern Cal 3-1 560 18

17. Wisconsin 3-1 502 19

18. BYU 4-0 450 20

19. Nebraska 5-0 445 21

20. Ohio St. 3-1 298 22

21. Oklahoma St. 3-1 246 24

22. East Carolina 3-1 237 23

23. Kansas St. 3-1 216 25

24. Missouri 4-1 145 NR

25. TCU 3-0 109 NR

Others receiving votes • Arizona St. 97, South Carolina 61, Clemson 52, Arizona 43, Marshall 40, Georgia Tech 37, West Virginia 24, Arkansas 18, Maryland 5, Louisville 4, N. Dakota St. 3, Washington 2, NC State 1, Virginia 1.