Utah now the top team in Big 12 as BYU falls in latest AP Top 25 rankings

SALT LAKE CITY — After a wild weekend of college football, the sport delivered for a second straight week as seven teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll lost over the weekend.

Unfortunately for BYU, they were included in the teams that dropped a game Saturday. Conversely, Utah continued on its winning ways to improve to 7-0 on the season with a win over a ranked Houston team.

Here’s a look at the latest AP Top 25 rankings after Week 8 action.

BYU Cougars

Coming off a win over then-No. 2 Notre Dame, BYU had the difficult task of traveling to Florida to take on UCF in an environment known for making it difficult for opposing teams, especially when the Knights have momentum on their side.

The Cougars found themselves in tight battle with the Knights, who pulled away in double overtime to give BYU its first loss of the season. BYU had its chance in double overtime, but Bear Bachmeier and his receivers couldn’t connect to get it done.

As such, BYU dropped in the latest rankings on Sunday. The Cougars fell back six spots to No. 8 and is now the second-highest ranked team in the Big 12.

Though a setback, BYU now returns home to LaVell Edwards Stadium to welcome Arizona State to town a week after the Sun Devils beat Kansas State 28-17.

Utah Utes

Ahead of its top-15 showdown against Houston, Utah heard the doubts of the many people who thought the Utes didn’t have what it took to keep its undefeated streak intact. And for about 40 minutes of game time, it looked like the doubters were right.

But quarterback Devon Dampier and the offense made a second-half comeback and the defense held firm to defeat a ranked Houston team in a raucous Rice-Eccles Stadium environment. Utah remains one of only three undefeated teams in the country and the only one in the Big 12.

With the win, Utah maintains the FBS longest active winning streak at 13 straight games.

Utah jumped up four spots in the rankings to No. 6 and is now the highest-ranked team in the Big 12 for the first time this season. The Utes also received one first-place vote this week.

Big 12 teams

For the first time this season, the Big 12 has six teams ranked in the latest AP Top 25 rankings, though three teams dropped after losses this week.

Behind Utah and BYU is Texas Tech, who dropped to No. 13 (a five-spot fall) after a loss to an unranked Cincinnati team, who is receiving votes this week. The Red Raiders joined the Cougars as undefeated teams who lost over the weekend.

Houston, who was previously at No. 14 ahead of its matchup with Utah, dropped to No. 18, and is followed by Arizona at No. 22, who moved up three spots this week.

Checking back into the rankings is No. 24 Oklahoma State, who fell out of the poll last week after a loss to Houston.

The Big 12 now has the second-most teams ranked at six, following behind the SEC’s nine teams ranked this week. The Big Ten features five teams ranked this week, with Wisconsin rounding out the poll at No. 25.