BYU Football Remains At No. 8 In AP Top 25, Coaches Poll

PROVO, Utah – The AP Top 25 and Coaches pollsters didn’t make many changes to the rankings after the week 11 college football slate. BYU benefitted from the lack of movement, standing pat at No. 8 in both polls after their first bye week in two months.

BYU is one of three teams in college football that boasts an 8-0 record right now. The other two are both faith-based institutions that, in typical years, view themselves as Independents. Notre Dame (N0. 2) and Liberty (No. 21 in the AP Top 25). Notre Dame is a member of the ACC in this wild and crazy 2020 season.

#BYU remains at No. 8 in the Coaches Poll.

The entire Top 11 stayed the same as last week.#BYUFootball @kslsports pic.twitter.com/Oy8eby0QIZ

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 15, 2020

This will be the last week where a big focus is placed on the AP and Coaches Top 25 polls. Next week, Nov. 24, the College Football Playoff Committee releases its initial rankings. BYU will need to be in the Top 12 of the Playoff committee’s rankings to be in the at-large pool for New Year’s Six bowl games. The Playoff Committee selects new Year’s Six at-large teams.

No. 8 BYU returns to action this Saturday when the Cougars host FCS foe North Alabama in Provo. The Cougars are undefeated all-time against programs in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Two programs that made the biggest jumps near the upper crust of the AP Top 25 were from the Big Ten. Indiana jumped to No. 9, and Wisconsin moved three spots from No. 13 to No. 10. Both Indiana and Wisconsin have Top 25 matchups next week against Ohio State and Northwestern, respectively.

Amway Coaches Poll

Week of November 15th, 2020

1. Alabama (6-0)

2. Notre Dame (8-0)

3. Ohio State (3-0)

4. Clemson (7-1)

5. Florida (5-1)

6. Texas A&M (5-1)

7. Cincinnati (7-0)

8. BYU (8-0)

9. Miami (7-1)

10. Indiana (4-0)

11. Georgia (4-2)

12. Wisconsin (2-0)

13. Oregon (2-0)

14. Oklahoma State (5-1)

15. Marshall (7-0)

16. Iowa State (5-2)

17. Oklahoma (5-2)

18. Coastal Carolina (7-0)

19. USC (2-0)

20. Northwestern (4-0)

21. Auburn (4-2)

22. Liberty (8-0)

23. Texas (5-2)

24. North Carolina (6-2)

25. Louisiana (7-1)

#BYU stays put at No. 8 in the AP Poll. #BYUFootball @kslsports https://t.co/IAQ4AhrAsr pic.twitter.com/cGoraitvVz

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 15, 2020

AP Top 25

Week of November 15th, 2020

1. Alabama (6-0)

2. Notre Dame (8-0)

3. Ohio State (3-0)

4. Clemson (7-1)

5. Texas A&M (5-1)

6. Florida (5-1)

7. Cincinnati (7-0)

8. BYU (8-0)

9. Indiana (4-0)

10. Wisconsin (2-0)

11. Oregon (2-0)

12. Miami (7-1)

13. Georgia (4-2)

14. Oklahoma State (5-1)

15. Coastal Carolina (7-0)

15. Marshall (7-0)

17. Iowa State (5-2)

18. Oklahoma (5-2)

19. Northwestern (4-0)

20. USC (2-0)

21. Liberty (8-0)

22. Texas (5-2)

23. Auburn (4-2)

24. Louisiana (7-1)

25. Tulsa (4-1)

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.