Utah Football Surges Up AP Top 25, BYU Makes Slight Jump
Nov 21, 2021, 12:24 PM | Updated: 3:58 pm
Tyler Allgeier #25 of the Brigham Young Cougars (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) and Tavion Thomas #9 of the Utah Utes (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Fresh off of a dominant win over Oregon, Utah football was the biggest riser in the Week 13 AP Top 25 poll.
The Utes (8-3) jumped eight spots from No. 24 to No. 16 in this week’s rankings. With the win, Utah clinched the Pac-12 South Division title for the third time in four years.
1️⃣6️⃣ pic.twitter.com/CCw5pzNGmk
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 21, 2021
While Utah surged up the rankings, Oregon tumbled down the polls. On Saturday night at Rice-Eccles, the Ducks were No. 4 in the AP Top 25, now they check in at No. 11. Oregon remains the highest ranked team from the Pac-12.
BYU saw a slight bump up the rankings from No. 14 to No. 13 after taking down Georgia Southern 34-17 in Statesboro, Georgia.
#BYU football moves up one spot to No. 13 in the latest AP Top 25 poll. #BYUFootball @kslsports pic.twitter.com/o8O3f75v1v
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 21, 2021
The Cougars were in a tougher fight in the first half than many expected, but they pulled away from the Eagles in the second half to secure their ninth win of the season.
What’s next for the Utes & Cougars
Utah returns to action this week on Friday when they host the Colorado Buffaloes for Senior Day at Rice-Eccles. The following week, Kyle Whittingham’s squad will play in the Pac-12 Championship on December 3.
BYU will also be in action against a Pac-12 team this week. The Cougars close out their regular season against the USC Trojans. USC enters the game at 4-6, needing to win their final two games to secure bowl eligibility.
BYU, on the other hand, is looking to secure a 10-win regular season, a feat no one envisioned in the preseason after losing Zach Wilson and four other NFL draft picks from last year’s 11-win team. A win over the Trojans would also give BYU a perfect 5-0 record against Pac-12 teams this season.
The College Football Playoff rankings will be released by the Playoff Committee this Tuesday on ESPN.
Here are the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll rankings for week 13.
AP Top 25 rankings
Week 13
1. Georgia (11-0)
2. Ohio State (10-1)
3. Alabama (10-1)
4. Cincinnati (11-0)
5. Notre Dame (10-1)
6. Michigan (10-1)
7. Oklahoma State (10-1)
8. Ole Miss (9-2)
9. Baylor (9-2)
10. Oklahoma (10-1)
11. Oregon (9-2)
12. Michigan State (9-2)
13. BYU (9-2)
14. Texas A&M (8-3)
15. UTSA (11-0)
16. Utah (8-3)
17. Iowa (9-2)
18. Wisconsin (8-3)
19. Houston (10-1)
20. Pitt (9-2)
21. Wake Forest (9-2)
22. San Diego State (10-1)
23. Louisiana (10-1)
24. NC State (8-3)
25. Arkansas (7-4)
Others receiving votes: Clemson, Mississippi State, Penn State, Appalachian State, Kentucky, Purdue.
Coaches Poll
Week 13
1. Georgia (11-0)
2. Alabama (10-1)
3. Ohio State (10-1)
4. Cincinnati (11-0)
5. Notre Dame (10-1)
6. Michigan (10-1)
7. Oklahoma State (10-1)
8. Ole Miss (9-2)
9. Oklahoma (10-1)
10. Baylor (9-2)
11. Oregon (9-2)
12. Iowa (9-2)
13. Michigan State (9-2)
14. Texas A&M (8-3)
15. BYU (9-2)
16. Houston (10-1)
17. Pitt (9-2)
18. Wisconsin (8-3)
19. Utah (8-3)
20. UTSA (11-0)
21. Wake Forest (9-2)
22. San Diego State (10–1)
23. Louisiana (10-1)
24. NC State (8-3)
25. Kentucky (8-3)
Receiving Votes: Arkansas; Clemson; Mississippi State; Penn State; Appalachian State; Purdue; Coastal Carolina; Air Force; Oregon State.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
