Utah’s comeback against BYU did more than settle a rivalry game. It pushed the Utes even higher in the latest AP Top 25, while the Cougars slid after watching a late lead disappear.
The turning point came late in the third quarter Saturday, when Utah quarterback Devon Dampier slipped away from a would-be sack on third-and-7, broke out of the pocket and turned a broken play into a 9-yard gain. Two snaps later, he found Braden Pegan on a back-shoulder throw in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown, putting Utah ahead and giving the Utes their first points since a 14-0 burst in the opening quarter.
That sequence helped Utah pull away from BYU, snap a three-game losing skid in the rivalry and keep its unbeaten season intact. The Utes now own the longest active winning streak in the FBS at 15 games, and with three regular-season games left, they remain on a clear path toward a Big 12 championship appearance and a College Football Playoff bid.
Sunday’s AP Top 25 reflected that momentum. Utah climbed to No. 2 and remains the highest-ranked team in the Big 12.
The Utes also picked up 12 first-place votes after getting just one last week. That ranking could point toward a similar spot when the first official College Football Playoff rankings come out Tuesday night.
Utah’s position is strengthened by its own results and by what still lies ahead. With wins over BYU and Houston on top of its undefeated run, the Utes control their own fate and have some breathing room as they chase their first Big 12 championship game.
BYU, meanwhile, saw its ranking take a hit after the loss. The Cougars, who had erased a 20-point deficit to build a 6-point lead over Utah, fell five spots to No. 12 after suffering their second defeat of the season. They are now the third-highest ranked Big 12 team.
Their shot at getting back on track comes Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium against Baylor, a team that has been hot and remains in the hunt for a championship berth.
The Big 12 has five teams in the AP rankings after Week 10. Texas Tech moved up to No. 10 after a shootout win over West Virginia, climbing three spots. If Utah and Texas Tech keep winning their final three games, they would meet in the Big 12 title game in Arlington, Texas.
Also in the poll from the conference are No. 14 Houston and No.
22 Arizona, which will host Utah on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. MT on FOX.
In Other News...
BYUs Utah Loss Exposed A Brutal Offense Defense Divide
BYUs 28-20 loss to Utah left plenty of room for second-guessing, and Brandon Gurneys postgame grading laid out just how uneven the night was for the Cougars. The quarterback room, led by Bear Bachmeier, came out on the wrong end of the evaluation after a turnover-heavy performance, while the rest of the offense was left to pick through a game that never found much rhythm.
On the other side of the ball, the defensive line stood out as one of the brighter spots, earning one of the better marks for its work up front. The group generated sacks and helped keep Utah from consistently leaning on the run, a contrast that made the divide between BYUs offense and defense even more stark as the final grades came into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Utah Is Forcing A No. 1 Debate Fans Wont Ignore
Week 10 left the top of the national picture looking a little less settled, and the latest personal Top 25 ballot reflects that tension. UCLA and Utah are still unbeaten, which keeps both firmly in the conversation near the top, while the rest of the ranking is shaped by recent results and the kind of week-to-week judgment that makes college football polls so combustible.
For BYU fans, the interesting part is not just where the Cougars land, but how their season is being weighed alongside programs like Georgia, Notre Dame, Alabama, Indiana, Miami, Texas and Wake Forest. The ballot is subjective by design, but it captures the larger debate now building around the unbeaten teams and whether the Utes have done enough to force a serious No. 1 discussion. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Big 12 Path Just Got A Lot Tougher After Utah Loss
Utahs 28-20 win over BYU did more than settle bragging rights in the rivalry game. It tightened the Utes grip on the Big 12 race, pushed them to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play, and left BYU trying to regroup after a loss that carried real league consequences.
For the Cougars, the margin for error is suddenly much smaller. BYU dropped to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while ESPNs projections now give Utah a 93% chance to reach the Big 12 Championship Game and a 90% chance to make the College Football Playoff, a reminder of how quickly the path can narrow in a crowded race. [Read more 🡒]