BYU has moved up to No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, trailing only No. 1 Miami. The Cougars achieved their highest ranking since the 1984 national championship season following a 28-24 victory over Notre Dame on Oct. 17, 2026, at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.
The recent poll reflects a week of significant upheaval in college football, marking the first time in the AP poll's 90-year history that five of the top seven teams lost. Miami took over the top spot from Georgia, which had been ranked No. 1 for one week before losing to Auburn. The Hurricanes received 40 of the 70 first-place votes and earned their No. 1 ranking for the first time since the conclusion of the 2002 season.
The BYU victory on Oct. 17, 2026, saw the Cougars overcome a 10.5-point underdog status to reach a 6-0 record for the third consecutive year. The team earned 20 first-place votes, finishing 26 points ahead of No. 3 Ohio State. While every position in the Top 25 has a new team this week, only two teams dropped out of the rankings: Oklahoma State and Mississippi State.
The Top 25 shakeup included several notable shifts. Alabama fell seven spots to No. 13 after a loss to Tennessee, while Texas dropped 12 rungs to No. 19 following a loss to Florida. Other teams entering the poll include No. 20 Florida and No. 25 Arizona, while Oklahoma State and Mississippi State have exited the rankings.
