Where Utah ranks in latest AP Top 25 College Football poll
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The Utah Utes were out of action this week and enjoying a much-needed bye week. But they also moved up in the latest AP Top 25 College Football poll.
Utah benefitted from teams around them suffering losses. The Utes moved up to No. 12 this week — a one-spot bump from last week’s spot at No. 13. Nonetheless, Utah remains the third-highest ranked Big 12 team, following No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 8 BYU.
Utah remains one of the most efficient teams in the country before a Week 6 matchup with Kansas on the horizon. The rare "whiteout" game at Rice-Eccles Stadium this weekend will be the first time the Utes host the Jayhawks since 1996. The two teams played each other last year in Lawrence with Utah taking home a 31-21 win in Kyle Whittingham's final game with the program.
This year, two of the top defenses in the Big 12 will be on display. Kansas enters the contest ranked No. 1 in the league in total defense, allowing 244.8 yards per game. On the other hand, Utah comes in ranked No. 1 in the conference in scoring defense, giving up just 10.3 points per game. Kansas (2-2) is coming off a 55-0 rout over Middle Tennessee State. The margin of victory was the largest by the Jayhawks against an FBS opponent since 1968.
Utah enters the matchup with a perfect 4-0 mark and is 1-0 in Big 12 play. On top of its dynamic defense, Utah also has the No. 1 scoring offense in the conference, averaging 43.3 points per game through four contests. Quarterback Devon Dampier is the leader of the unit, having already thrown for 896 yards and nine touchdowns, while completing 70 percent of his passes. He's also rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Utes running back Wayshawn Parker is averaging 6.6 yards per carry and has 328 yards and five scores through four games.
The Big 12 has five teams included in the top 25 this week. BYU pulled out a tough win over TCU. Texas Tech struggled to get past Colorado on the road, but still came out with the victory. No. 18 Oklahoma State was on a bye week, but moved up one spot. No. 22 Houston got past UCF in the battle of space cities. Arizona is the only other team from the Big 12 receiving votes this week.
As for the national outlook, the top five went unchanged. Texas remained at the top, followed by Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami and Ohio State. Alabama moved up to No. 6 after dismantling Mississippi State. The tide swapped spots with Indiana, who moved down one spot to No. 7. BYU moved up two spots to No. 8 with Ole Miss and LSU rounding out the top 10.
AP Top 25 College Football poll: Week 6
1. Texas
2. Georgia
3. Notre Dame
4. Miami
5. Ohio State
6. Alabama
7. Indiana
8. BYU
9. Ole Miss
10. LSU
11. Texas Tech
12. Utah
13. Oregon
14. Missouri
15. Tennessee
16. Florida
17. Mississippi State
18. Oklahoma State
19. USC
20. Iowa
21. UCLA
22. Houston
23. Boise State
24. SMU
25. Pittsburgh
Others receiving votes: Kentucky 160, Wake Forest 142, Wisconsin 88, Duke 83, Northwestern 59, Nebraska 48, Minnesota 19, Arizona 19, James Madison 12, North Dakota State 7
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