Utah back in the top 10, while BYU returns to the top 25

It was a good weekend for Utah and BYU on the football field, and the national rankings rewarded both schools handsomely.

The Utes are now No. 10 in the latest versions of the Associated Press and US LBM Coaches polls released Sunday, after beating Oklahoma State 22-19 on the road.

The Cougars, meanwhile, entered the rankings for the first time this season after beating Kansas State 38-9 in Provo. BYU is No. 22 in both polls.

It’s the first time Utah has been ranked in the top 10 of the AP rankings in almost a year — the Utes climbed to No. 10 in the Sept. 24, 2023 poll version after beating then-ranked UCLA 14-7.

It’s also the fourth straight year that Utah has reached the top 10 in the AP poll at least once during the season. In 2022, the Utes ended the season ranked No. 10.

The Utes (4-0) led Oklahoma State 22-3 before the Cowboys rallied for two late touchdowns to make things interesting.

Utah stayed put in the coaches poll — the Utes made their top 10 debut in that poll last week.

Oklahoma State, meanwhile, fell six spots to No. 20 in the AP poll with the loss, while it dropped five spots to No. 20 in the coaches poll.

For BYU (4-0), this is their first time back in the polls since the 2022 season.

The Cougars climbed as high as No. 12 that year — following a win over top 10 Baylor — before falling out of the polls during an 0-4 October.

BYU scored three touchdowns in a three-minute, seven-second stretch — all off turnovers — to take control and upset Kansas State late Saturday.

The Wildcats, with the loss, fell 10 spots to No. 23 in the AP poll and 11 spots to No. 25 in the coaches poll.

In addition to Utah, BYU, Oklahoma State and Kansas State, one other Big 12 team is ranked — Iowa State is No. 18 in the AP poll and No. 19 in the coaches poll after beating Arkansas State 52-7.

There was minimal movement at the top of both rankings.

In the AP poll, the top four stayed the same — Texas at No. 1, Georgia at No. 2, Ohio State at No. 3 and Alabama at No. 4 — while Tennessee jumped one spot to No. 5.

The top 5 stayed the same in the coaches poll — Georgia at No. 1, Texas at No. 2, Ohio State at No. 3, Alabama at No. 4 and Ole Miss at No. 5.