BYU and Utah both cleared an early-season hurdle in Week 2, and the latest AP Top 25 reflected it.
With the calendar still young and the sport already showing a little chaos, the two Utah schools took care of business in different ways and moved up in the rankings. BYU handled a Big 12 test against Arizona, while Utah rolled past Arkansas in its first real measuring-stick game of the season.
For BYU, the climb came after last week’s slight dip in the poll, which was really just a break in a tie with USC following the Cougars’ dominant win over Utah Tech. This time, BYU had to earn it.
The game with Arizona stayed tight through halftime, but the Cougars’ defense took over after the break and posted a second-half shutout. The turning point came on a late fourth-down stop, and BYU turned right around and finished the drive with a touchdown on the next possession.
Arizona, still viewed as a Big 12 title contender, never answered.
That win pushed BYU up to No. 11, a four-spot rise from last week. It also made the Cougars the highest-ranked Big 12 team in the poll, moving them past Texas Tech.
Texas Tech stayed at No. 13 after surviving a tricky road trip to Oregon State. The Red Raiders were expected to have a cleaner night in Corvallis, but the Beavers made it a battle and receiver Jesse Legree drew plenty of attention. Texas Tech came away with the win, but it didn’t gain any ground in the rankings.
Utah made its own statement in a matchup that began with Arkansas striking first on a field goal. After that, the Utes took control and never let go, winning by 33 points.
Utah’s offense kept Arkansas guessing with different looks on nearly every snap, and the ball moved with ease. On defense, the Utes harassed KJ Jackson, forced hurried throws, and finished with 13 pass breakups in a suffocating performance.
That showing lifted Utah to No. 17, up three spots. The Utes are now the third-highest ranked Big 12 team, sitting behind BYU and Texas Tech.
Houston remains the conference’s fourth ranked team at No. 22 after its 77-6 win over FCS Southern. The Cougars now turn to a Week 3 meeting with Texas Tech.
Outside the ranked group, Oklahoma State is receiving votes after upsetting Oregon on the road a week after a disappointing loss. Arizona and Kansas State are also receiving votes.
In Other News...
BYU Showed Something Different In The Second Half At Arizona
Down at halftime in Tucson, No. 15 BYU came out of the break looking like a different team and finished with a 28-17 win over Arizona. The Cougars leaned on a strong rushing drive to open the second half, got meaningful production from players such as Kyler Kasper and Tausili Akana, and began to tilt the game with a steadier, more physical approach after the intermission.
Arizona still had a chance to flip the pressure back onto BYU before the Cougars defense shut the door with a key fourth-down stop. From there, BYUs pass rush started to squeeze the Wildcats late, and the Cougars spent the final stretch controlling the flow instead of chasing it, a meaningful shift for a team that had to answer a few questions after the break. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Keeps Winning Big Games Even When The Start Looks Familiar
For a while, it looked a lot like one of those nights when BYU would have to grind through familiar frustration before finding its footing. The Cougars still came away with a Big 12 win over Arizona, and the familiar part of the story was how much the game changed after halftime. Kelly Poppingas defense settled in and Aaron Rodericks offense found better answers after a slow start, giving BYU the kind of second-half control that has started to define these bigger nights.
Tommy Prassas also ended up in the middle of the decisive sequence late, when a key fourth-quarter tackle helped seal the result. It was another reminder that BYU keeps finding a way in these matchups, even when the opening stretch suggests the game might go another direction. The win was Kalani Sitakes sixth straight over Arizona, which says plenty about how often the Cougars have been the team making the right adjustments when these teams meet. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Arizona Win Put A Promising New Core On Display
BYUs win over Arizona offered a useful snapshot of how the Cougars are starting to piece together a new-look core on both sides of the ball. The second-half surge was powered by a defense that kept tightening the screws, with Tausili Akana making his presence felt, Uluave and Cannon DeVries adding key support, and the offense finding enough balance to pull away. It was the kind of performance that suggests the roster is settling into a clearer identity early in the season.
The more interesting part for BYU is how many different names are starting to matter in meaningful spots. Isaiah Glasker emerged as a steady target in the passing game, and Kyler Kaspers scoring impact showed how quickly the receiving group can tilt a game when it gets rolling. Akanas production up front only adds to the sense that this team may have more emerging pieces than expected, which makes the next stretch of games worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]