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BYU’s dominating performance over Navy in season opener lands Cougars in national rankings

(Tommy Gilligan | The Associated Press) BYU's Lopini Katoa (4) and Tyler Allgeier (25) celebrate during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Navy, Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, in Annapolis, Md.

The last week has seen highs and lows for BYU football, but the Cougars have now found a new high to ride. For the first time since the 2018 season, BYU is ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.

Following a dominating 55-3 season opener at Navy, the Cougars find themselves ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll and No. 22 in the Amway Coaches Poll in the first weekly regular-season ranking released for the 2020 season.

BYU, which is the only FBS program playing west of Texas, scored the most points in a season opener under coach Kalani Sitake and the most points in an opener overall since the Cougars scored 70 against Tulane in 2001.

The Cougars were sound on all phases of the ball, while the Midshipmen struggled due to lack of preparation.

The rankings come a day after BYU announced it would be postponing its upcoming game at Army, originally scheduled for Sept. 19, to a to-be-determined date following “a small number of positive COVID-19 test results” among the team.

The Cougars will conduct small-group workouts next week until the team is cleared to resume full-team practices. BYU will next host Troy on Sept. 26 in LaVell Edwards Stadium, in a game that will be televised on ESPN.

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