Josh Furlong ranks BYU at No. 1 in AP Top 25 poll after victory over Notre Dame

College football analyst Josh Furlong submitted his Associated Press Top 25 ballot on Saturday, giving Brigham Young University the No. 1 spot after the Cougars defeated Notre Dame in a game that drew a full crowd at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Furlong said BYU "looked like a team ready to fight" and stayed composed even when Notre Dame briefly took the lead, earning the top ranking in his view.

Miami was placed at No. 2, with Furlong noting the Hurricanes' ability to secure a win against a rival despite a challenging schedule. Ohio State fell to No. 3 after a victory over Indiana but lost its starting quarterback, prompting the analyst to keep the team in the top tier while acknowledging the need for additional depth.

Georgia was ranked fourth, with Furlong describing the Bulldogs as a strong program that suffered a setback against a rival. Notre Dame dropped to No. 5 following its close loss to BYU, which the analyst attributed to a narrow margin and questionable officiating in the final seconds.

The remaining top-ten spots were filled by UCLA (No. 6), Ole Miss (No. 7), Texas Tech (No. 8), Indiana (No. 9) and Utah (No. 10). Furlong provided brief comments on each team’s recent performance and outlook.

In addition to the top ten, Furlong listed several other programs under consideration, including Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon and Oregon State.