BYU’s upcoming date with Notre Dame in Provo just got a lot bigger.
The Fighting Irish climbed to No. 2 in the latest AP Top 25, setting up a showdown next weekend between No. 2 Notre Dame and No.
8 BYU. The Irish are now the highest-ranked opponent to visit BYU since the Cougars hosted No.
1 USC in 2004.
BYU held steady at No. 8 after its 24-10 win over Iowa State, and that ranking puts even more shine on what ESPN’s “College GameDay” is heading to Utah to cover. It will be the first top-10 matchup hosted by BYU, and only the second top-10 game the Cougars have been part of overall. The first came last season against Texas Tech.
Utah also moved up in the poll, climbing one spot to No. 11 after a 41-24 victory over Kansas on Saturday. The Utes are set to play at Colorado next Saturday.
Three other Big 12 teams landed in the rankings this week: No. 10 Texas Tech, No.
18 Oklahoma State and No. 20 Houston.
The full AP Top 25 has Georgia at No. 1, followed by Notre Dame, Miami, Ohio State, Indiana, Alabama, Texas, BYU, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Utah, UCLA, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Iowa, Oklahoma State, USC, Houston, Wake Forest, LSU, Boise State, SMU and Northwestern.
Others receiving votes: Wisconsin 92, Oregon 86, Arizona 82, Nebraska 65, Oklahoma 44, James Madison 29, Florida 9, Duke 5, New Mexico 3, Oregon State 1.
In Other News...
Utah's Third Quarter Problem Is Starting To Feel Risky
Utah has kept winning, but the way its offense has drifted in the third quarter has started to feel like more than a small blip. The Utes have talked openly about the issue after recent games, with head coach Morgan Scalley and offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven pointing to execution and the need for a better balance in play-calling as the reasons momentum has been so hard to sustain once halftime ends.
Wayshawn Parkers usage against Iowa State fit right into that conversation. The junior running back was a major first-half force, then saw his role shrink after the break as Utah continued trying to spread the ball around and avoid leaning too hard on one player. That approach makes sense in theory, but if the third-quarter stalls keep showing up, it is the kind of detail that can start to matter a lot more when the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Utah's Win Raised A Bigger Question About How This Team Travels
Utah left Lawrence with a 41-24 win over Kansas, and Wayshawn Parker was the player who kept the Utes from spending the afternoon in a tight road game. Parker rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns, giving Utah the kind of physical edge it wanted away from home, while Devon Dampier settled in after a difficult opening half and helped the offense find enough rhythm to pull away.
The bigger question now is what this group looks like when it leaves Salt Lake City and has to sort through the bumps that come with it. Utahs defense had trouble handling Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall, who threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns, and the win still came with enough uneven stretches to leave room for concern about whether the Utes can travel cleanly when the opponent can keep pace through the air. [Read more 🡒]
Utah Has A Big 12 Statement Chance Against Kansas
Utahs first Big 12 season has already given the Utes a chance to make an early impression, and Week 6 brings another one. No. 12 Utah is unbeaten through four games and back at home to face Kansas, a matchup that carries a little extra weight because it gives the Utes a stage to show they can handle league play while keeping their fast start rolling. Devon Dampier has been a steadying force for Utah at quarterback, and the Utes have also been rewarding bettors by playing well against the spread to open the year.
Kansas arrives with some questions attached, especially away from home, where the Jayhawks have had more trouble finding their footing. Their record in the losses has also made it harder to back them against the number, which only adds to the sense that this trip could tell us plenty about where both teams stand in the Big 12 pecking order. Utah already has one recent edge in this matchup, and another strong showing here would only deepen the Utes statement case. [Read more 🡒]