Associated Press To Start Including Pac-12, Big Ten In Top 25 Voting

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Associated Press and media members who vote on the weekly Top 25 poll will start including the Big Ten and Pac-12 in their voting consideration.

The Big Ten announced last week that they will start their 2020 season on the weekend of October 24. On Thursday night, the Pac-12 said they will begin their season on November 6.

Hours after the Pac-12 announcement, the Mountain West decided to return to play with an 8-game schedule beginning October 24. All three of those conferences will now begin being considered in the AP Top 25 poll.

This according to Associated Press college football writer Ralph Russo.

If the MAC decides in the next 48 hours to conduct a fall season, MAC teams will also be eligible.

Basically, we're just ripping off the band-aid. Might as well just open the door and let'em in all at once.

This is going to be very difficult for voters, but 2020, #amirite

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) September 25, 2020

In the poll that was released earlier this week, the Big Ten was not included but SEC teams were in the poll despite not starting their season until September 26.

Clemson is the No. 1 team in the land with Alabama at No. 2, Oklahoma at No. 3, No. 4 is Georgia and Florida rounding out the top five. BYU is No. 18 in the poll. Army, Marshall and Louisiana are also in the Top 25.

Since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, Utah has been ranked in the poll in 49 weeks. Last season they were in the poll every week.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.