BYU falls to No. 22, Utah climbs to No. 12 in AP poll
September 8, 2026 at 9:02 PM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune · Summarized by Mormon News from original reporting
BYU dropped four spots to No. 22 in the latest AP Top 25 college football poll despite a 63-7 opening win over Southern Utah, while Utah rose two positions to No. 12 after defeating Florida 24-13 on the road. The Salt Lake Tribune reports Kyle Whittingham fell out of coaching rankings entirely in a separate poll.
The Cougars' slide reflects voter expectations for dominant wins over FCS opponents, while Utah's climb rewards a road victory over a ranked SEC team. Both programs enter their second week of Big 12 play, with BYU hosting Baylor on Saturday.
The poll marks the first regular-season rankings of 2026 with both in-state rivals inside the Top 25.
More coverage of this story
- KSL Sports →September 8, 2026 at 12:10 PM MT
- Deseret News →September 13, 2026 at 12:15 PM MT
- KSL →September 13, 2026 at 6:33 AM MT
Mormon News summarizes reporting from established outlets and always links to the original. See an error? Report it.
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