FORT COLLINS, Colo. — BYU is nationally ranked for the first time since the start of the 2002 season.

The Cougars broke into The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday after defeating Colorado State 24-3 Saturday in Fort Collins.

"We appreciate the recognition of being considered a top-25 football program," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "When you look back at the great tradition of BYU football, being ranked on a weekly basis is very much a part of that tradition. As we continue to improve and make progress, we expect this type of recognition for our program to continue."

BYU's four-year absence from the rankings is the longest stretch the Cougars have spent outside the polls since 1974. The 2002 ranking came on the heels of the 12-2 season of 2001 but fizzled when the Cougars lost four of five after Gary Crowton's second year began with a 2-0 start with wins over Syracuse and Hawaii.

BYU received 53 points and is ranked 27th in the coaches' poll, trailing Clemson with 75 points. Nebraska is ranked 25th in the coaches' poll. The Cougars were last ranked in the coaches' poll on Sept. 8, 2002. The Cougars have not been ranked in either poll since that time and are 30 points from being ranked in the Harris Poll with Nebraska No. 25. BYU is No. 26 with 144 points, ahead of No. 26 Clemson (144) and No. 27 Hawaii (56).

If you pin down Mendenhall and his players, getting ranked is nice, but it was not one of the team's primary goals at the start of the season. BYU's priorities were to go undefeated, win the conference championship, avenge losses to rival Utah and go to a bowl game.

Said Mendenhall, I'm very pleased with the direction this program is heading; however, we have a very important game this week. Our focus this week, as it is each week, will be on playing our next opponent."

Undefeated is out, but the next step in meeting goals is beating Wyoming in this short week. Thursday can't come soon enough for Mendenhall and the Cougars.

BYU (7-2, 5-0) hosts Wyoming (5-5, 4-2) in LaVell Edwards Stadium in four days and BYU can clinch the Mountain West Conference championship for the first time since 2001.

BYU holds a game and half lead on Wyoming in the league standings after the Cowboys broke a fourth-quarter 17-17 tie with San Diego State and went on to win 27-24.

When Mendenhall's staff left Hughes Stadium Saturday night for a charter flight with the team after dispatching Colorado State 24-3, each coach was handed a DVD with cutouts of Wyoming, part of a scouting report breakdown. When Cougar players disembarked from the plane in Utah, they were given similar DVDs to study over the remaining weekend.

"I'm proud of our team's focus and I know they are anxious to play on Thursday night," said Mendenhall, who has led the Cougars to seven wins for the first time in five years.