BYU football hits another milestone in 2020: cracking the Coaches poll top 10

BYU is back in the top 10 national rankings.

The Cougars jumped from a tie for 11th last week to No. 10 in the latest edition of the Coaches poll, released Sunday. It’s the highest ranking for BYU in 11 years, since the Cougars climbed as high as No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll in 2009.

In this week’s AP poll, BYU moved up one spot to No. 11, with 906 points.

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After beating Texas State 52-14 Saturday night, BYU received 941 points in the Coaches poll and broke a tie with Miami, which fell to No. 12 despite beating Virginia 19-14. The Cougars also moved past the Hurricanes in the AP poll.

BYU leapfrogged Penn State in both polls as well. The Nittany Lions fell 10 spots to No. 17 in the Coaches poll and No. 18 in the AP poll after losing to previously unranked Indiana (now 17th in the AP poll and 19th in Coaches) in overtime.

Among other highlights:

• The Big Ten kicked off its season this week, and Ohio State rose two spots to No. 3 in both polls following a convincing 52-17 win over Nebraska. Wisconsin, which beat Illinois 45-7, climbed within just 13 points of BYU in the Coaches poll and is ranked No. 11, while the Badgers leapfrogged BYU to No. 9 in the AP poll. Michigan, a 49-24 winner over Minnesota, jumped to No. 13 in the AP poll and No. 14 in the Coaches, while the Golden Gophers fell out of the poll.
• With the Pac-12 two weeks away from starting its season, Oregon stayed put at No. 15 in the Coaches poll and dropped a spot to No. 14 in the AP, while USC climbed three spots to No. 20 in the Coaches poll and No. 21 in the AP.
• The Mountain West Conference also started play this weekend, and Boise State — which BYU plays on Nov. 6 — is No. 25 in the AP poll and fourth among teams receiving votes outside the top 25 in the Coaches, with 79 points. The Broncos beat Utah State 42-13 Saturday.
• Cincinnati, the top ranked Group of Five school, jumped to No. 7 in both polls after beating SMU 42-13. The Mustangs are now No. 22 in the AP poll and No. 23 in the Coaches.
• Utah continues to receive votes in both polls, with 45 in the Coaches and 36 in the AP. The Utes open their season Nov. 7 against Arizona.