BYU men's basketball has made a triumphant climb in the AP Top 25 ranks, moving up to the 21st spot after their impressive road win against West Virginia. This marks the first time in five weeks that the Cougars have seen an upward trend in their ranking.

Following a downward slope in their ranking, slipping incrementally each week since January 1st, Mark Pope's crew finally turned the tide and secured a notable victory against the Mountaineers. The Cougars received 425 points from voters, a significant increase from the previous week's 283 points, closing in on the 20th spot held by FAU, a Final Four squad in 2023.

In addition to surpassing FAU, the Cougars also leapfrogged their local rival Utah State, who dropped five spots to No. 22 after a loss against unranked San Diego State. Despite being just one spot behind BYU in the poll, the Aggies received 139 fewer points for a total of 286. Meanwhile, the University of Utah did not receive any votes for the second consecutive week.

The Big 12 conference is well-represented in the AP Top 25 rankings, with five teams ranked ahead of BYU. However, Texas Tech stands at No. 23, making the Cougars hot on their heels. Top-ranked teams in the poll include Kansas at No. 4 and Houston at No. 5, followed by Baylor at No. 13 and Iowa State at No. 14.

Among the Mountain West schools, Utah State secured the highest ranking at No. 24, with San Diego State and New Mexico rounding out the poll at No. 25. In advanced metrics, BYU continues to maintain a strong position, currently placed at No. 7 in the NET rankings and No. 9 in KenPom. Utah State, on the other hand, remains at No. 24 in NET but falls to No. 35 in KenPom. Utah holds steady at No. 34 in NET and No. 40 in KenPom.

Looking ahead, the Cougars aim to secure their third consecutive victory as they face Oklahoma on Tuesday. Furthermore, Utah State is preparing to host Nevada on Tuesday, while the University of Utah braces for a tough matchup against No. 8 Arizona on Thursday at the Huntsman Center.

BYU's climb in the rankings serves as a testament to their resilience and determination, and fans eagerly anticipate their continued success as the season progresses.