facebook-pixel

Utah football matches highest-ever AP ranking after beating BYU

The No. 2 Utes are 9-0 for the first time since 2008. BYU dropped to No. 12 in latest AP Top 25.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars cornerback Jayven Williams (15) celebrates an interception Utah hosts BYU, NCAA football at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars cornerback Jayven Williams (15) celebrates an interception Utah hosts BYU, NCAA football at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.

By https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/d23c9c3d-6a35-4583-8f7c-a59ca4e57a79.png The Salt Lake Tribune
 | Nov. 8, 2026, 12:19 p.m.
| Updated: 12:24 p.m.

You have to go back to 2008 to find the last time Utah football opened the season 9-0.

The 2026 Utes now have something else in common with that Sugar Bowl-winning squad.

Following a 28-20 win over BYU on Saturday, Utah climbed one spot to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 released Sunday, matching the program’s highest-ever ranking in the poll.

Utah came in just behind No. 1 Georgia, receiving 12 of the 70 first-place votes.

The 2008 Utes finished the season at No. 2 with 16 first-place votes after beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

Utah, though, has more time to climb.

The Utes are currently favored in all three of their remaining regular-season games and have a 90% chance of making the College Football Playoff.

The team needs just two more wins to clinch a spot in the Big 12 championship game.

“This was a big win, not the big win,” Utah head coach Morgan Scalley said following the win over the Cougars.

As for the Cougars, they fell five spots to No. 12 after losing Saturday’s rivalry game. But they got a resume boost, too — and no, not just a quality loss.

Notre Dame beat previous No. 1 Miami, moving the Irish to No. 3. Not a bad win to have when the College Football Playoff committee releases its rankings Tuesday.

AP Top 25

  1. Georgia (8-1)

  2. Utah (9-0)

  3. Notre Dame (8-1)

  4. UCLA (9-0)

  5. Miami (8-1)

  6. Indiana (8-1)

  7. Alabama (7-2)

  8. Texas (7-2)

  9. Tennessee (7-2)

  10. Texas Tech (8-1)

  11. Wake Forest (8-1)

  12. BYU (7-2)

  13. Kentucky (7-2)

  14. Houston (7-2)

  15. Southern California (7-2)

  16. Iowa (7-2)

  17. Boise State (8-1)

  18. Oregon (6-3)

  19. Ole Miss (6-3)

  20. South Carolina (6-3)

  21. Ohio State (6-3)

  22. Arizona (7-2)

  23. New Mexico (8-1)

  24. LSU (6-3)

  25. SMU (7-2)

Others receiving votes: Missouri 50, Duke 49, Oklahoma State 21, Liberty 14, Louisville 10, North Texas 2

Support free news for Utah

sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.

Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.

You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.

$15$25$35

MOST VIEWED