BYU Football Climbs To No. 8 In AP, Coaches Polls
Nov 8, 2020, 12:09 PM | Updated: 12:17 pm
BYU quarterback Zach Wilson (1) calls a play in the huddle as BYU and Boise State play a college football game at Albertsons Stadium in Boise on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020. BYU won 51-17. (Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – After a dominating win over Boise State on the Blue Turf, BYU continues to climb in the Top 25 rankings. BYU is now No. 8 in the Amway Coaches Poll and No. 8 in the latest Associated Press Top 25.
The No. 8 ranking in the Coaches Poll is BYU’s highest spot on that ballot since 2008.
The win over the formerly ranked Broncos was a statement victory for the Cougars. What also helped BYU rise up the polls was Georgia getting crushed against Florida, 44-28. Georgia dropped behind BYU, allowing the Cougars to make a slight jump in the rankings.
#BYU moves up to No. 8 in the Coaches Poll.#BYUFOOTBALL @kslsports pic.twitter.com/8BMl4GQ99r
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2020
BYU is currently 8-0, the first time they’ve opened a season perfect through the first eight games since 2001. Before the season, BYU was unranked and out of sight, out of mind in the national college football landscape. But with a star quarterback in Zach Wilson and a level of domination against their opponents that few can replicate in this pandemic-riddled year, the Cougars have been one of the sport’s biggest risers this season.
What’s notable about this climb in the rankings for BYU is that every conference has played at least one game. With every major conference back, BYU still impresses the pollsters.
To highlight how unique this 2020 season has been, 13 of the 25 teams, including BYU, in the Coaches Poll in early November are still undefeated. Three of those thirteen teams have only played one game.
BYU will have a bye this weekend before returning to action against FCS foe North Alabama from the Big South Conference on November 21st in Provo. The next time BYU is scheduled to play an FBS team is on December 12th against San Diego State.
BYU is still trying to schedule additional games to its 2020 schedule. After the win over Boise State on Friday, Kalani Sitake told reporters that athletic director Tom Holmoe informed him in August to get his team ready to play 12 regular-season games.
BYU moves up one spot in Amway Coaches Top 25 Poll
Week of November 8th, 2020
1. Alabama (6-0)
2. Notre Dame (7-0)
3. Ohio State (3-0)
4. Clemson (7-1)
5. Florida (4-1)
6. Texas A&M (5-1)
7. Cincinnati (6-0)
8. BYU (8-0)
9. Miami (6-1)
10. Indiana (3-0)
11. Georgia (4-2)
12. Oregon (1-0)
13. Oklahoma State (5-1)
14. Wisconsin (1-0)
15. Marshall (6-0)
16. Iowa State (5-2)
17. Coastal Carolina (7-0)
18. Oklahoma (5-2)
19. SMU (7-1)
20. USC (1-0)
21. Auburn (4-2)
22. Liberty (7-0)
23. Northwestern (3-0)
24. Texas (5-2)
25. Army (6-1)
AP Top 25
Week of November 8th, 2020
1. Alabama (6-0)
2. Notre Dame (7-0)
3. Ohio State (3-0)
4. Clemson (7-1)
5. Texas A&M (5-1)
6. Florida (4-1)
7. Cincinnati (6-0)
8. BYU (8-0)
9. Miami (6-1)
10. Indiana (3-0)
11. Oregon (1-0)
12. Georgia (4-2)
13. Wisconsin (1-0)
14. Oklahoma State (5-1)
15. Coastal Carolina (7-0)
16. Marshall (6-0)
17. Iowa State (5-2)
18. Oklahoma (5-2)
19. SMU (7-1)
20. USC (1-0)
21. Texas (5-2)
22. Liberty (7-0)
23. Northwestern (3-0)
24. Auburn (4-2)
25. Louisiana (6-1)
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.
