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The first AP Top 25 poll has been released. Where are BYU and Utah ranked?

BYU landed at No. 14 while the Utes came in at No. 21 in the preseason poll.

(The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, left, and BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier.

(The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, left, and BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier.

By https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/684b2f12-8528-496e-97cc-4cfa23d2fc8b.jpg Jason Batacao
 | Aug. 17, 2026, 10:15 a.m.
| Updated: 3:30 p.m.

College football season is drawing nearer.

Monday was the latest checkpoint in the march toward the start of the 2026 season: the AP Top 25 preseason poll.

So where did the local schools land?

BYU will start the season ranked No. 14 (actually, tied with USC at No. 14), while Utah came in at No. 21.

The Cougars and Utes are two of the four Big 12 teams ranked. Texas Tech is No. 12 and Houston is No. 23.

BYU enters the season with high expectations and Big 12 championship hopes after going 12-2 in 2025 and just missing out on the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Cougars are returning much of their core from last season, including quarterback Bear Bachmeier and running back LJ Martin.

The Utes, on the other hand, have some bigger questions entering the season. First-year head coach Morgan Scalley is replacing Kyle Whittingham, who left for Michigan this offseason. Scalley had to assemble a new coaching staff and lost multiple key defenders in the NCAA transfer portal.

Still, Utah has a solid foundation to work with after retaining star playmakers, including quarterbacks Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin, as well as running back Wayshawn Parker.

As for Whittingham, his Wolverines start the year ranked No. 16.

AP Top 25 preseason poll

1. Ohio State

2. Oregon

3. Georgia

4. Notre Dame

5. Texas

6. Indiana

7. Miami

8. Texas A&M

9. Ole Miss

10. Oklahoma

11. LSU

12. Texas Tech

13. Alabama

14. *BYU

14. *USC

16. Michigan

17. Washington

18. Penn State

19. SMU

20. Tennessee

21. Utah

22. Iowa

23. Houston

24. Louisville

25. Missouri

*Tied at No. 14

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