The BYU Cougars are ranked number 23 in the first edition of the USA Today's Coaches Poll.
BREAKING: College Football Preseason Coaches Poll👀https://t.co/UOHDaVDFxk pic.twitter.com/ouboz88vXu
— On3 (@On3sports) August 4, 2025
The fact that the Cougars are in the Top 25 despite unexpectedly losing quarterback Jake Retzlaff is a testament to both the system and the talent coach Kalani Sitake has developed in Provo. After last year's outstanding 11-2 season, which was capped off with a beatdown of Colorado in the Alamo Bowl, coaches across the nation have taken notice of what BYU is capable of.
Now, many BYU fans have a love-hate relationship with preseason polls. We tend to love polls that have a number next to the Cougars name even when every team sports a similar 0-0 record. So, thank you USA Today Coaches Poll!
On the other hand, the BYU community tends to distrust and dismiss preseason polls that omit the Cougars. BYU fans tend to claim that preseason polls have a bias toward SEC and Big Ten teams and their elevated preseason ratings give them a built-in advantage throughout the year. That's a fair criticism, too, but this year the Cougars may be the beneficiaries of a somewhat broken system that can favor teams that start the season ranked high.
The rest of the Big 12
At No. 23 the Cougars are ranked fourth in the Big 12 behind Arizona State (No. 11), Kansas State (No. 20), and Iowa State (No. 22). Kalani Sitake's team came in one spot ahead of No. 24 Texas Tech, a sleeper to win the Big 12 after a massive haul in this year's transfer portal.
This poll also reflects the reputation the Big 12 needs to shake off being a conference of a lot of good teams but lacking true great ones that can compete for a national championship. While five Big 12 teams fall in the Top 25, none of them are placed in the Top 10.
But as last year proved in the topsy-turvy Big 12, preseason polls can be wildly inaccurate. Here's to hoping this year the coaches are spot on with the BYU Cougars.