Where BYU and Utah landed in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the year

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Where BYU and Utah landed in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the year
Brigham Young University Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates with his team after they beat the Colorado Buffaloes 24-21 at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.
Brigham Young University Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates with his team after they beat the Colorado Buffaloes 24-21 at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.
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Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

For the 18th time in program history, BYU finds itself listed in the College Football Playoff rankings.

The Cougars checked in at No. 7 in the initial rankings for 2025, which were released Tuesday night on ESPN.

It’s the highest position BYU has ever held in the initial rankings, beating last year’s opening spot of No. 9. The program’s highest-ever ranking was No. 6, which was achieved after starting 9-0 in 2024.

If the current rankings were final, the Cougars would host No. 10 Notre Dame in Provo for the first round of the Playoff.

Right behind BYU at No. 8 is fellow Big 12 foe Texas Tech, who also happens to be the Cougars’ opponent this weekend in one of the biggest games in school history.

Utah came in at No. 13, sitting just outside the top 12 but still ranking ahead of a number of 1-loss teams — an encouraging sign for the Utes and Big 12 as a whole.

The rankings will be updated each week before the final 12-team playoff bracket is released on Sunday, Dec. 7.

The top team in the rankings was Ohio State, followed by Indiana at No. 2 and Texas A&M at No. 3.

The SEC leads the way with nine teams in the rankings, followed by the Big Ten with seven and the ACC with five.

However, each of the three Big 12 teams in the rankings are ahead of every ACC squad, which could be a positive sign for the Big 12’s chances of getting multiple playoff bids.

Full rankings

  1. Ohio State (8-0), Big Ten
  2. Indiana (8-0), Big Ten
  3. Texas A&M (8-0), SEC
  4. Alabama (7-1), SEC
  5. Georgia (7-1), SEC
  6. Ole Miss (8-1), SEC
  7. BYU (8-0), Big 12
  8. Texas Tech (8-1), Big 12
  9. Oregon (7-1), Big Ten
  10. Notre Dame (6-2), Independent
  11. Texas (7-2), SEC
  12. Oklahoma (7-2), SEC
  13. Utah (7-2), Big 12
  14. Virginia (8-1), ACC
  15. Louisville (7-1), ACC
  16. Vanderbilt (7-2), SEC
  17. Georgia Tech (8-1), ACC
  18. Miami (6-2), ACC
  19. USC (6-2), Big Ten
  20. Iowa (6-2), Big Ten
  21. Michigan (7-2), Big Ten
  22. Missouri (6-2), SEC
  23. Washington (6-2), Big Ten
  24. Pitt (7-2), ACC
  25. Tennessee (6-3), SEC
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BYU head coach Kalani Sitake and Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham talk prior to BYU and Utah playing at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
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Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

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