SALT LAKE CITY — If the Associated Press released a preseason poll ranking its top 27 teams, both BYU and Utah would find themselves listed among the best in the country. Alas, the poll released Monday includes just 25 teams, leaving the Cougars and Utes sitting just outside.
While Texas claimed the preseason top spot for the first time in school history, BYU and Utah garnered enough votes to be listed in the "Others receiving votes" section, with 156 and 144 points, respectively.
That would place the Utah schools in the 26th and 27th positions.
BYU fans are right to wonder where the Cougars would have ranked had quarterback Jake Retzlaff not transferred after violating the school's honor code. Although even if the senior had stayed, he likely would have been suspended for a number of games.
Utah's showing in the preseason poll appears to be a vote of confidence in head coach Kyle Whittingham's ability to right the ship after a rare down season in Salt Lake City. The season will be the first for new offensive coordinator Jason Beck, as well as quarterback Devon Dampier, who played under Beck at New Mexico the previous two seasons.
AP PRESEASON TOP 25:
1. Texas (25) 1552
2. Penn St. (23) 1547
3. Ohio St. (11) 1472
4. Clemson (4) 1398
5. Georgia (1) 1331
6. Notre Dame 1325
7. Oregon (1) 1236
8. Alabama 1179
9. LSU 1174
10. Miami 889
11. Arizona St. 791
12. Illinois 713
13. South Carolina 667
14. Michigan 662
15. Florida 626
16. SMU 565
17. Kansas St. 512
18. Oklahoma 463
19. Texas A&M 434
20. Indiana 423
21. Mississippi 370
22. Iowa St. 309
23. Texas Tech 274
24. Tennessee 192
25. Boise St. 191
Others receiving votes: BYU 156, Utah 144, Baylor 132, Louisville 90, Southern Cal 64, Georgia Tech 63, Missouri 33, Tulane 23, Nebraska 23, UNLV 21, Toledo 13, Auburn 10, James Madison 9, Memphis 9, Florida St. 8, Duke 6, Liberty 5, Navy 5, Iowa 5, TCU 4, Pittsburgh 3, Army 2, Colorado 1, Louisiana-Lafayette 1.
