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SALT LAKE CITY — By all accounts, BYU exceeded expectations this season and finished with a 10-2 record.
The Cougars were in the hunt for a conference championship berth down to the final day, but narrowly lost out when Iowa State secured its first-ever 10-win season with a win over Kansas State.
But unlike last season in which BYU went on a four-game losing skid to end the season, missing a bowl game, the Cougars ended the season on a high with a win over Houston. The team now has a bowl game on the horizon to send out a senior class of 20.
The win also gave BYU a bump in the latest college football national rankings, including the Associated Press Top 25 poll that was released Sunday afternoon.
The Cougars moved up to No. 17 this week, a two-spot jump, after dropping down to No. 19 two weeks after a season high to No. 7. BYU is the third-highest ranked team from the Big 12, with Arizona State up to No. 12 to lead the conference and Iowa State up to No. 16.
Both Arizona State and Iowa State will play in the upcoming Big 12 championship game this week.
Colorado is the only other team from the Big 12 ranked, where the Buffaloes check in at No. 20 following a blowout, shutout win over Oklahoma State. Colorado was also in contention for a Big 12 title berth but lost in tiebreakers after BYU beat Houston.
Kansas State and Baylor are receiving votes.
Oregon remains at the top of the rankings as the unanimous pick as the only undefeated team left in the country. Behind the Ducks is No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Penn State, No. 4 Notre Dame and No. 5 Georgia. Ohio State, which was previously ranked No. 2 before suffering a lost to rival Michigan, dropped five spots to No. 7.
For the full rankings see below, or click here.
