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PROVO — BYU football is 7-0 for the first time since 2001, and their current win streak is reaching historic levels as the Cougars inched up the national polls Sunday morning.
BYU was ranked No. 9 in the USA Today/Amway Coaches Poll and Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday morning, inching up a spot in the Coaches Poll and two slots in the AP poll primarily after Oklahoma State fell six spots to No. 12 following its 41-34 overtime loss to unranked Texas Saturday afternoon.
The move marks BYU's first appearance in the AP top 10 since 2009, when the Cougars climbed as high as No. 7 during an 11-2 season that finished with a No. 12 national ranking.
That sets up a marked showdown Friday night with Boise State (7:15 p.m. MT, FS1), which climbed to No. 23 in the Coaches Poll. The Broncos (2-0) are coming off wins over Utah State and Air Force, the latter coming without starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier. In his place, USC transfer Jack Sears completed 17-of-20 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns against the Falcons, including a 75-yard strike to CT Thomas on the first play of the game.
BYU enters the matchup after a 41-10 win over Western Kentucky on Halloween night. The Cougars scored on their first five offensive possessions, jumping out to a 35-3 lead at halftime before sputtering after the break.
But a defense that ranks No. 13 nationally allowing 284.5 yards per game held the Hilltoppers (2-5) out of the end zone all but once, including a goal-line stand that followed a 20-play, 10-minute drive on WKU's opening possession of the half.
Still, there will be plenty left to be desired — and improve upon — as BYU looks to what most consider to be its most important game of the season.
"That's really the ultimate goal," said linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi, who had a game-high nine tackles and recovered a fumble in the win. "We had no control over the talent we are facing. The goal has just been to get better every week, and Kalani alluded to that. We're going to have a short week, we're at a disadvantage, but we're going to turn that into an advantage.
"We put ourselves in situations that are disadvantageous to us. We're prepared for that."
The Cougars will be the highest-ranked opponent in the Coaches Poll to face Boise State since the Broncos took on No. 4 TCU in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl. That makes BYU the highest-ranked team to ever play in Boise during the regular season.
Boise State will be ranked No. 21 in the AP poll for its Friday night showdown on the Blue Turf.
Boise State has only played five games against teams ranked No. 9 or higher in program history. They are 3-2 in those games.
— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) November 1, 2020
Wins: No. 8 Fresno State in 2001, No. 7 Oklahoma in 2007, No. 4 TCU in 2010.
Losses: No. 5 Arizona State in 1996, No. 8 Louisville in 2004.
The Broncos haven't lost to a team ranked in the top 10 since 2004, but have only played such a team five times in program history.
The top five in the Coaches Poll remain unchanged, led by No. 1 Clemson (7-0) and No. 2 Alabama (2-0). Ohio State (2-0), Notre Dame (6-0) and Georgia (4-1) rounded out the top five, followed by leading Group of Five contender for a New Year's Six bowl bid Cincinnati (5-0), Texas A&M (4-1) and Florida (3-1).
The same five teams constitute the AP's top five, with Utah receiving 44 votes to sit nine spots outside the Top 25.
Liberty made its debut in the polls at No. 25 in the AP ranking, marking the first time since Sept. 20 that two FBS independents have been ranked in the AP Top 25.
