Utah, BYU Debut In First College Football Playoff Ranking Of 2025
Nov 4, 2025, 6:16 PM | Updated: 6:30 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – The first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2025 season arrived Tuesday night, and for the first time in this new Big 12 era, both Utah and BYU opened inside the Top 25.
It’s a fitting storyline for a rivalry that now actually matters in the national picture every single week.
BYU landed at No. 7, while Utah checked in at No. 13 marking a shared return to the playoff conversation. Texas Tech, the only other Big 12 program in the ranking, landed one spot behind BYU at No. 8.
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Those three rankings are incredibly significant for the Big 12, and improves the conference’s odds significantly towards earning multiple bids this season.
The Cougars are one of just four undefeated teams left in the Power Four, and now prepare to step onto its biggest stage in years this Saturday at Texas Tech. It’s a game with real stakes — the kind that can define a season and shape the conference title race. Both teams are hunting a résumé boosting win, and the winner likely takes firm control of one of the two Big 12 Championship spots.
For Utah, this is very familiar territory. The Utes have made regular appearances in the CFP era — now entering their eighth season featured in the rankings. Only a handful of programs nationally can match Utah’s consistency. With Big 12 title hopes still alive, the Utes will need to take care of business and get some help elsewhere in the conference to punch their ticket to Arlington.
In total, Utah has spent 44 weeks in the CFP rankings — tied for seventh-most nationally. That includes finished No. 11 in 2019 and 2021, No. 17 in 2018, No. 19 in 2016, and No. 22 in 2014 and 2015.
BYU, now in its third year as a Power Conference member, arrives in this season’s first rankings with a roster that finally reflects Big 12 recruiting, NIL investment, and coaching.
Big 12 needs BYU, Texas Tech, Utah to take care of business
This is the second season since the Big 12’s redefined future took shape — and the top of the conference has looked vastly improved this season, with Utah, Texas Tech, and BYU all debuting as top 13 programs.
BYU and Texas Tech have the best resumes in the conference, while Utah’s performances reflect positively in numerous power ratings.
This weekend’s BYU vs Texas Tech showdown will play a big role in shaping the the title race in the final weeks of the season. Regardless of the result from that game, it’s vital that these three teams take care of business the rest of the way.
The Big 12 has been viewed by many as a one-bid league but these three programs give the conference a legitimate chance at securing multiple bids.
Cougs. Red Raiders. Utes. #Big12FB | @CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/OYs0UEDNKK
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) November 5, 2025
2025 College Football Playoff Ranking
Week of November 4, 2025
- Ohio State (8-0)
- Indiana (8-0)
- Texas A&M (8-0)
- Alabama (7-1)
- Georgia (7-1)
- Ole Miss (8-1)
- BYU (8-0)
- Texas Tech (8-1)
- Oregon (7-1)
- Notre Dame (6-2)
- Texas (7-2)
- Oklahoma (7-2)
- Utah (7-2)
- Virginia (8-1)
- Louisville (7-1)
- Vanderbilt (7-2)
- Georgia Tech (8-1)
- Miami (6-2)
- Southern California (6-2)
- Iowa (6-2)
- Michigan (7-2)
- Missouri (6-2)
- Washington (6-2)
- Pittsburgh (7-2)
- Tennessee (6-3)
Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.
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Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
