History Of BYU Football Predictions From Phil Steele

Jul 18, 2025, 11:50 AM

BYU Football, Phil Steele, History of Predictions...

Looking back at the history of Phil Steele predictions for BYU football. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

KSL Sports

PROVO, Utah – In the dog days of summer, the Phil Steele College Football Preview is a nice reminder of how close we are to the upcoming season.

Steele has published a preseason magazine since 1995. If you know, it’s the book the experts cannot do without.

Volume 31 of the @philsteele042 College Football Preview. The season is almost here. 🏈 📚

Chase Roberts is the fifth BYU football player to grace the cover of Phil Steele. pic.twitter.com/qwrBbcteyK

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) June 28, 2025

Steele holds the distinction of being the most accurate magazine over the last 30 years, but how has he fared in his predictions for BYU football?

Here’s a history of how Steele has fared in his BYU football picks.

Complete history of how Phil Steele ranks BYU football in his Preseason Top 40

Each year, Steele publishes his own Top 40 rankings, which extend to an additional 20 teams, forming a top 60. The highest preseason ranking BYU has received was in 2009, when they were placed at No. 15, and they exceeded that expectation by finishing 12th in the AP Top 25.

The biggest miss from Steele on BYU was in 2017, when he ranked the Cougars No. 27 and they finished with a 4-9 record.

Kalani Sitake era (2016-PRESENT)

2025: Not Ranked
2024: Not Ranked | Finished: 13th
2023: Not Ranked
2022: No. 26
2021: No. 50 | Finished: No. 19
2020: No. 52 | Finished: No. 11
2019: No. 38
2018: Not Ranked
2017: No. 27
2016: No. 45

Bronco Mendenhall era (2005-2015)

2015: Not Ranked
2014: No. 38
2013: No. 37
2012: No. 35
2011: No. 29
2010: No. 51
2009: No. 15 | Finished: No. 12
2008: No. 17 | Finished: No. 25
2007: No. 34 | Finished: No. 14
2006: Not Ranked | Finished: No. 16
2005: No. 43

Gary Crowton era (2001-2004)

2004: Not Ranked
2003: Not Ranked
2002: No. 38
2001: Not Ranked | Finished: No. 25

LaVell Edwards era (1995-2000)

2000: Not Ranked
1999: No. 27
1998: No. 34
1997: No. 24
1996: No. 28 | Finished: No. 5
1995: Not Ranked

Phil Steele’s history of Power Poll rankings for BYU football

2025: No. 40
2024: No. 73
2023: No. 57
2022: No. 13
2021: No. 38
2020: No. 47
2019: No. 37
2018: No. 78
2017: No. 33
2016: No. 43
2015: No. 44
2014: No. 35
2013: No. 34
2012: No. 33
2011: No. 27
2010: No. 44
2009: No. 22
2008: No. 18
2007: No. 36
2006: No. 48
2005: No. 56
2004: No. 55

Conference predictions for BYU football from Phil Steele over the years

Since Phil Steele launched his publication in 1995, BYU football has been part of four different affiliations.

Big 12 era (2023-Present)

2025: Tied-7th
2024: 14th | Finished: Tied-1st
2023: 11th | Finished: Tied-11th

Independent era (2011-2022)

2022: 2nd | Finished: Tied-2nd
2021: 3rd | Finished: 2nd
2020: 3rd | Finished: 1st
2019: 3rd | Finished: 3rd
2018: Tied-3rd | Finished: 3rd
2017: 2nd | Finished: 4th
2016: 2nd | Finished: 1st
2015: 2nd | Finished: 2nd
2014: 2nd | Finished: Tied-1st
2013: 2nd | Finished: 3rd
2012: 2nd | Finished: Tied-2nd
2011: 2nd | Finished: 1st

Mountain West era (1999-2010)

2010: 3rd | Finished: Tied-3rd
2009: 1st | Finished: 2nd
2008: Tied-2nd | Finished: 3rd
2007: 2nd | Finished: 1st
2006: 3rd | Finished: 1st
2005: Tied-3rd | Finished: Tied-2nd
2004: 2nd | Finished: 3rd
2003: 3rd | Finished: Tied-4th
2002: 3rd | Finished: 7th
2001: 4th | Finished: 1st
2000: 2nd | Finished: Tied-3rd
1999: 1st | Finished: Tied-1st

WAC era (1995-1998)

1998: 2nd (Pacific Division) | Finished: 1st (Pacific)
1997: 1st (Mountain Division) | Finished: 5th (Mountain)
1996: 1st (Mountain Division) | Finished: 1st
1995: 5th | Finished: Tied-1st

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.