The expectations are high for both BYU and Utah going into the 2026 season, and that is reflected in the preseason Associated Press top 25 rankings that were released Monday.
The Cougars are tied for No. 14 in the AP poll — both they and USC received 839 points. It’s their highest preseason ranking since going into the 1985 season at No. 10 following BYU’s national championship-winning season the year before.
The Utes, meanwhile, are ranked No. 21, with 304 points. It’s the seventh time in the past eight seasons that Utah has started the year in the preseason AP rankings.
BYU finished the 2025 season ranked No. 11 in the final AP top 25 after going 12-2, playing in the Big 12 championship game for the first time and winning the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Utah ended last year ranked No. 14 following an 11-2 season that was capped by a Las Vegas Bowl win over Nebraska.
The Cougars and Utes are expected to be strong contenders for the Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff berth this season.
Both teams will start the year ranked in both major polls — BYU came in at No. 15 and Utah at No. 21 in the preseason US LBM Coaches top 25 poll releases earlier this month.
How many Big 12 teams are in the preseason Associated Press top 25 rankings?
In addition to BYU and Utah, defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech and Houston are also in the preseason AP top 25.
The Red Raiders, who represented the league in the CFP last season, are the highest-ranked conference team, two spots ahead of BYU at No. 12. Houston is ranked No. 23.
Three other league teams — Arizona (32 points), TCU (11) and Oklahoma State (8) — also received votes in the AP poll.
Who are the top five teams in the preseason coaches top 25?
Ohio State will start the 2026 season at No. 1 in the AP rankings, followed by Oregon at No. 2, Georgia at No. 3, Notre Dame at No. 4 and Texas at No. 5.
The Fighting Irish play at BYU on Oct. 17 in the biggest Big 12 nonconference game of the season.
Defending national champion Indiana is ranked No. 6, and Miami, which lost to the Hoosiers in last year’s national title game, is No. 7.