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SALT LAKE CITY — Putting the ball in Jake Retzlaff's hands to closeout a game tends to go well.
The BYU quarterback found himself in another late-game situation in which his team was down and he needed to go the length of the field to get a score for a chance to keep the Cougars' undefeated streak alive.
Retzlaff did the heavy lifted, and place-kicker Will Ferrin did the rest to top rival Utah in a wild scene in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
BYU's magical season continues to churn.
The following is the ballot I submitted to the Associated Press that will be counted in the consensus rankings that will be released Sunday afternoon.
1. Oregon
For a brief moment, Maryland looked like it could hang with Oregon. But nothing is derailing the Ducks' undefeated streak so far. Phil Knight paid a pretty penny for the roster, and there's a real chance his beloved team can see it through to the very end.
2. Ohio State
Ohio State made easy work of a bad Purdue team — exactly what it needed to do. The Buckeyes have shown cracks along the way, but the wins keep coming, outside of a close (and dare we say controversial) loss to the No. 1 team in the country.
3. BYU
It's time. The Cougars have the resume, they have the wins, and they continue to find ways to make the machine work. And given that everyone around them continues to lose, why not reward one of the last remaining unbeaten teams in the country.
4. Indiana
Indiana has one more win than the Cougars in their undefeated streak, but BYU's resume is a bit better in totality. It's a narrow margin, but let's just celebrate the undefeated mark. Indiana doesn't get the name-recognition respect, but they're not a team to mess with this season.
5. Texas
There's moments where Texas looks like it could win the whole thing — like Saturday against Florida. And then there's other moments where the wheels kind of fall off a bit. I believe the Longhorns could likely beat any team above it, but it's tough to know which team shows up. Overall, it's a dangerous team.
6. Penn State
The resume has been soft, and the team crumbled under pressure against Ohio State — many teams do, honestly. James Franklin clearly has a winning message, and the Nittany Lions handled Washington this weekend, but I don't feel like they're playing like a top-five team. It's close, but it's time to reward other teams.
7. Tennessee
Tennessee did what it was supposed to against a Mississippi State team just trying to get by in a tough season. The Vols have the talent, and they carry an important win over Alabama, but there hasn't been consistency on a weekly basis. They're a dangerous team ... if they want to be.
8. Alabama
With their backs against the figurative wall, Alabama absolutely rose to the occasion in Death Valley. Few teams come out of Baton Rouge in a night environment, but the Crimson Tide seemingly had no trouble. This Alabama team has what it takes to win it all, as well, but it's tough to know which Alabama team shows up to the game.
9. Georgia
It's wild putting Georgia at No. 9, but the results on the field have to mean something. The Bulldogs have been a dominant team this season, but they've also had some head-scratching games, too. As a two-loss team now, it's time to re-evaluate where Georgia can go this season.
10. Notre Dame
Notre Dame thumped Florida State in convincing fashion. In the preseason, this looked like a potential top-10 matchup between the two teams. Florida State is BAD, so it's difficult to glean much from the win, but Notre Dame has been much improved since a head-scratching loss to Northern Illinois. Personally, I feel like it's time to stop worrying about that loss with the Irish's play.
Dropping out: Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt
Checking in: Arizona State, South Carolina
In consideration (alphabetical): Georgia Tech, Louisiana, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Tulane, UNLV
If you can't see my full ballot below, click here.
