The purpose of having a host of AP Poll voters is to ensure perspectives from all across the country are considered when ranking teams. AP Poll voters are scattered across teams, conferences, and geographies with the intent of reducing regional bias. But even then, they still get things wrong, especially "anchoring" teams that were ranked artificially high in the preseason poll and giving them a halo effect despite less-than-stellar showings.
AP Poll voters ranked BYU essentially No. 26 in the preseason poll with the Cougars having the most votes of any non-ranked team. This was an affront to a BYU squad that went 11-2 last year and finished the season ranked No. 13.
Fast forward a couple of weeks an BYU has outscored Portland State and Stanford by a combined 96-3, and instead of being ranked, the Cougars have inexplicably fallen to No. 27. The Cougars deserve to be ranked, but too many voters are suffering from "anchoring syndrome", including Big 12 writers, by throwing votes at teams like Arizona State, SMU, and Florida.
Let's take a look at how Big 12 voters in the AP Poll ranked (or didn't rank) the Cougars as media members who allegedly follow the Big 12 closely.
All #APTop25 Week 3 ballots: pic.twitter.com/cggfsswBMI
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 7, 2025
Spencer Ripchick, West Virginia
BYU: Unranked
Most puzzling: Arizona State ranked at No. 25. The Sun Devils slogged their way to an unimpressive Week 1 home victory against Northern Arizona, a contest they led just 24-13 well into the third quarter. Then in Week 2 Arizona State lost to Mississippi State, an SEC team that has gone 1-15 in conference play over the last two seasons.
Ripchick voting ASU in the Top 25 is a prime example of the "anchoring" fallacy, ranking a flawed team like ASU based mostly on an artificially high preseason ranking.
Brian Howell, Colorado
BYU: Unranked
Most puzzling: Florida at No. 22. The Gators began the season ranked No. 15 and in Week 1 looked the part by beating Long Island University 55-0, whch still isn't as impressive as BYU's 69-0 shellacking of Portland State. But then in Week 2 Florida lost at home to South Florida, an American Athletic Conference team that began the season with zero votes in the AP Poll.
But, sure, Florida is still the No. 22 team in the country while BYU is unranked.
Matt Murschel, UCF
BYU: Unranked
Most puzzling: Arizona State at No. 24 (see above) and Baylor at No. 25. I mean, Murschel is doing his part to get votes for the Big 12's Baylor Bears, but this is a team that lost by 14 points at home in Week 1 to a then unranked Auburn team, then upset a ranked but vulnerable SMU team in overtime in Week 2.
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas
BYU: Ranked No. 24.
Well done by Kirkhoff to have the Cougs among the Top 25. No additionally scrutiny needed.
Josh Furlong, Utah
BYU: Ranked No. 24
I have to give some serious props to Furlong for including BYU among the Top 25. As somebody who covers the University of Utah, this take might not go down well with some of his readers.
Henry Greenstein, Kansas
BYU: Unranked
Most puzzling: SMU at No. 18 is downright laughable. The Mustangs began the season ranked No. 16 in the AP Poll, routed East Texas A&M 42-13 then lost at home to unranked Baylor. Greenstein having SMU hovering near the Top 15 while BYU being unranked with a far more impressive resume is curious, to say the least.
Steve Johnson, TCU
BYU: Unranked
Most puzzling: TCU at No. 17.
Homer alert! Homer alert! Homer alert!
TCU is unranked and received just four votes in this week's AP Poll, yet Johnson has his hometown team ranked at No. 17. Yes, TCU looked impressive beating a deeply flawed UNC team 48-14, but the rest of the voters are taking a wait-and-see approach toward a 1-0 TCU team while Johnson is the captain of the hype train. At least his Horned Frogs readers are happy.
Michael Lev, Arizona
BYU: Unranked
Most puzzling: TCU at No. 20 and Arizona State at No. 25. See above for both teams, but props to Lev for throwing some votes at Big 12 schools.
Brett McMurphy, Oklahoma State
BYU: Unranked
Most puzzling: Utah at No. 11. My purpose in brining up Utah isn't to throw shade at BYU's rival, but to questions McMurphy's rationale. I'll just go on the record that I think Utah looks like the best team in the Big 12 right now, their defense is scary good, and Devon Dampier is the real deal at quarterback. Utah deserves to be ranked and I wouldn't be surprised to see them win the Big 12 this year.
My issue with McMurphy is the Utes and the Cougars have similar resumes in that they have both pounded a cupcake and walked all over a bottom-feeder Power Four team. Utah beat Cal Poly 63-9 while BYU beat Portland Sate 69-0. Utah dominated UCLA 43-10 while BYU trounced Stanford 27-3.
And yet, somehow Utah is knocking on the door of the Top 10 while BYU is unranked? Okay, Brett!