Best Finishes in BYU Football History

With the season’s final game being played on Thursday and the rankings coming out shortly thereafter, it makes sense to take a look at how BYU has fared in the polls at previous seasons' ends and how this season stacks up against the all-time best.

BYU has finished the season ranked 16 times, this will be the 17th. If the Cougs finish #12 or better as expected, it will be the best finish since 1996 and the fourth best finish of all time. Here is how the 10 best finishes stack up:

Best 10 Finishes in BYU Football History (thru 2008)

Order   Year            Final AP
1         1984 (13-0)     #1
2         1996 (14-1)     #5
3         1983 (11-1)     #7
4         1980 (12-1)     #12
5         1979 (11-1)     #13
(t)        1981 (11-2)    #13
7         2007 (11-2)     #14
8         1985 (11-3)     #16
(t)        2006 (11-2)    #16
10        1994 (10-3)    #18

Other Ranked Finishes
11        1977 (9-2)      #20
12        1989 (10-3)    #22
(t)        1990 (10-3)     #22
14        1991 (8-3-2)   #23
15        2001 (12-2)     #25
(t)        2008 (10-3)     #25

Going into the bowl game against #16 Oregon State, the Cougars were ranked #15 in the AP, which by itself would rank as the eighth best finish of all-time. But with the big win over a ranked opponent, the statement made by several of the other MWC teams (TCU aside), and the losses by teams just above them (Miami #14, LSU #13, Georgia Tech #9, Oregon #7) that should drop several spots, BYU should move up 3-4 spots. Look for them to finish find themselves #11 or #12 when the polls come out. Anything more would be a nice surprise, anything less would be a slight.