Utah Football's AP Top 25 Standing After Texas Tech Loss

Utah Football's Struggles Lead to Drop from AP Top 25 Poll

The Utah football team faced a significant setback in the 2025 season when they suffered their first loss of the year on Saturday. This defeat not only cost them a win but also resulted in their removal from the Associated Press Top 25 poll, marking a notable drop in national recognition.

The Utes' loss came at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where they experienced their worst defeat since 2023. The game against Texas Tech ended with a final score of 34-10, and the Utes struggled throughout the match. The fourth quarter was particularly brutal, as Texas Tech scored 21 unanswered points, which proved to be the deciding factor in the game.

The eventful day on campus featured an appearance by Fox's Big Noon Kickoff crew and thousands of enthusiastic fans. However, it was the Red Raiders who stole the spotlight, thanks to a standout performance by backup quarterback Will Hammond. Hammond, stepping in for injured starter Behren Morton, showcased his talent by completing 13 of 16 passes for 169 yards and throwing two touchdown passes. His performance helped Texas Tech maintain control of the game even after Utah narrowed the gap to 13-10 with over 10 minutes remaining.

Utah's offensive struggles were evident throughout the game. The Utes, known for their strong rushing attack, were held to just 3.3 yards per carry. Additionally, they forced four turnovers, which contributed to their inability to mount a comeback. Head coach Kyle Whittingham expressed his frustration during the postgame press conference, stating that the team needs to review the film to understand why they didn't perform up to their usual standards.

Texas Tech's victory propelled them up five spots in the AP poll, reaching No. 12—their highest ranking since 2013. This achievement marked the first time the Red Raiders started a season 4-0 since that year. The Big 12 conference had several teams represented in the rankings, including Iowa State at No. 14, TCU at No. 24, and BYU at No. 25. Other teams like Arizona State and UCF were also close to making the cut.

Meanwhile, Miami reached its highest ranking since 2017, landing at No. 2 behind Ohio State. Indiana also made a significant jump, moving to No. 11 after a dominant 63-10 win over Illinois.

AP Top 25 Poll (Post-Week 4)

Here is a breakdown of the current standings:

1. Ohio State (3-0) – 52 first-place votes
2. Miami (4-0) – 7 first-place votes
3. Penn State (3-0) – 5 first-place votes
4. LSU (4-0)
5. Georgia (3-0)
6. Oregon (4-0) – 1 first-place vote
7. Oklahoma (4-0) – 1 first-place vote
8. Florida State (3-0)
9. Texas A&M (3-0)
10. Texas (3-1)
11. Indiana (4-0)
12. Texas Tech (4-0)
13. Ole Miss (4-0)
14. Iowa State (4-0)
15. Tennessee (3-1)
16. Georgia Tech (4-0)
17. Alabama (2-1)
18. Vanderbilt (4-0)
19. Michigan (3-1)
20. Missouri (4-0)
21. USC (4-0)
22. Notre Dame (1-2)
23. Illinois (3-1)
24. TCU (3-0)
25. BYU (3-0)

Teams that dropped out of the poll include Utah (No. 16) and Auburn (No. 22). New additions to the poll are TCU at No. 24 and BYU at No. 25. Indiana saw the biggest rise, moving up eight spots to No. 11.

Other teams receiving votes include Auburn with 122, Mississippi State with 102, South Florida with 77, Utah with 45, Arizona State with 30, Memphis with 23, Louisville with 23, Maryland with 6, UNLV with 3, UCF with 3, and North Texas with 2.