BYU is headed for the preseason AP poll, and the only real question is how high the Cougars will climb when it drops Monday.
After finishing 11th in the 2025 AP poll and putting together a 23-4 run over the last two seasons, BYU has earned a spot in the top 25 to open 2026. The case for the Cougars being even higher is easy to make. They’ve been one of the country’s most reliable teams over the past two years, and they bring back plenty of players who mattered in those wins, including reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin.
There’s also the roster-building angle. BYU’s recruiting has taken a clear step forward in recent years, and those higher-end recruits are now working their way into the program. That has made the Cougars deeper and more talented than the teams that piled up victories over the last two seasons.
If AP voters value proven production from a winning team, BYU has a real top-10 argument. In the best-case scenario, the Cougars could land at No. 11 and sit just outside that group.
But history says BYU may not get that kind of respect from voters. Programs like Texas, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, and even USC could end up ahead of the Cougars.
Even so, BYU has done enough to avoid falling far. A preseason ranking outside the top 20 would be hard to justify, and we don’t see a path to the Cougars landing lower than 16th. That would put them five spots below where they finished in 2025.
The last time BYU opened a season in the AP top 15 was 1985, the year after its 1984 national championship season. That kind of preseason position has been rare for the Cougars, but this time they should break through.
Our prediction has BYU at No. 14.
That lines up with the preseason coaches poll, where BYU came in at No. 15. AP voters were a little more bullish on the Cougars a year ago, so a slightly higher spot in the preseason AP poll feels like the most likely outcome.
In Other News...
BYUs Offense Looks Real Again As One Defensive Concern Lingers
BYU wrapped the first two weeks of fall camp with a scrimmage that tilted toward the offense, a welcome sign for a program trying to build real momentum on that side of the ball again. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier has reportedly taken a notable step forward from last season, and he is working with a deep, talented collection of weapons that gives the Cougars more options than they had a year ago.
The defense still has plenty going for it, especially speed, but one lingering issue remains hard to ignore. BYU has not yet identified a clear star pass rusher, and that leaves a little uncertainty about where the consistent pressure is going to come from when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Fans Just Got A Revealing Look At Utahs Football Divide
A new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll offers a useful snapshot of where Utah college football loyalties stand, and it is a reminder that the rivalry landscape in the state is broader than one game. Among Utah fans surveyed, 36% said they most closely follow the University of Utah, while 29% said BYU and 13% said Utah State, giving a clearer picture of how the fan base is divided across the state.
The more revealing part for BYU followers is how those allegiances shift by age, religion and politics. Younger and older fans leaned more toward BYU, while middle-aged fans were more likely to side with Utah, and the survey also found differences tied to religious background and political affiliation. For BYU, that kind of split matters because its fan base has always been about more than win-loss records, and this poll suggests the schools reach still cuts in different directions depending on who is looking. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Frontcourt Plan Hinges On One Crucial Eligibility Fight
BYU still has two open roster spots to sort through, and the frontcourt remains the biggest piece of the puzzle. The Cougars are in the mix for a Michigan State big man who would fit a clear need, and they are watching a California court injunction that could determine whether he is even allowed to enter the transfer portal. If the ruling goes the players way, BYU is viewed as one of the leading candidates to land him.
There is also another name in the frame, but the financial side of the equation is already shaping the rest of the search. With limited room to maneuver, the Cougars appear to be working through a choice rather than building out a full wish list, which leaves the frontcourt plan tied to a legal decision as much as a basketball one. For now, the roster picture is still waiting on that next turn. [Read more 🡒]