BYU Skyrockets To No. 9 In AP Poll After Upset of Oklahoma

I don't think anybody is surprised that BYU jumped in the rankings after upsetting Oklahoma on Saturday.  After the game I remarked to my brother that BYU might crack the top 15 because it was a big win, but not real clean, and I figured the voters would just write it off to Bradford's injury.

Boy was I wrong.

BYU jumped 11 spots all the way to No. 9 in the AP poll.  The coaches came in more where I expected at No. 12. 

The only thing about the coaches poll I disagree with is putting Boise ahead of BYU.  BYU's win was far more impressive.  It just goes to show that coaches rarely watch the games they vote on because BYU stood toe to toe with Oklahoma, even with Bradford in there.  Many reporters have said as much, and it reflected in the AP poll.

I am a little surprised that Oklahoma dropped all the way to No. 13.  We all knew they would drop as you have to when you lose, especially to a non-BCS school.  Luckily for them they have three weeks before they have a big game which gives Bradford time to heal, and Jones to get better.

So what does this huge jump do for BYU?

Who knows?

While preseason polls are pretty useless for the most part, the polls after the first week don't show a lot either.  Nobody has played anyone that has proven themselves.  Week two should reveal a lot, but really I think you need three or four games to get a real snapshot of where teams are.

It does put BYU in position to bust the BCS, and an outside shot at the national championship.  I realize that is a way outside shot, but if BYU runs the table they have to at least be considered. 

We all know that defense wins championships right?  Well, BYU's defense held the reigning Heisman winner and an offense that averaged 51 points a game last season to only 10 first half points.  This is an offense that averaged 33 points a game last season, IN THE FIRST HALF. 

The only team that held them to a single digit in the first half was Florida, and we all know what they did last year.  Even Texas allowed 21 points in the first half when they beat Oklahoma.

One reporter talked about seeing BYU's players before the game and how they all just looked like businessman walking onto the field whereas Oklahoma's players were huge athletes that looked like they were ready to dominate this season before going to the NFL next year.

As shocking as this is to say, BYU was quicker and executed better.  All of Bronco's talk about execution proved true on the biggest stage.  This game could have been much less competitive, luckily for Oklahoma BYU turned it over four times.  Their only touchdown coming on a muffed punt near the 35.

I also have not heard one single reporter mention two huge parts of the BYU win.  They did it without their No. 1 running back (out with a hamstring injury), or their defensive signal caller (suffered a concussion early in the game).

Playing without Harvey Unga is huge.  He has rushed for 1,000 yards in both of his seasons at BYU, and should do the same thing this year.  Kariya did a fine job replacing him, but he is by no means the bruiser that Unga is.  The fact that we won without him is a huge confidence booster for me.

So while the first poll of the season does little to nothing to establish the postseason, BYU is certainly in a great spot, and is poised for a great season.  Here's to hoping there is no letdown when they travel to New Orleans to play Tulane.