a few too many occasions.  People realize BYU puts on a good show, travels well, is good for TV, and has a lot that makes other people think they should be ranked higher than they are - they have a premium feel, but regularly seem to put out a just-under-premium performance when it counts.  Couple that with BYU recruits generally averaging around the 3* mark and never seem to average as a team much higher.  That's better than half the NCAA, but requires top tier execution and creative scheming to live in the top 25 on the regular.  I think people know that by now.

Unfortunately, too often in my view we have proven the "they're ranked too high" doubters more or less correct.

2001 (distant memory now) and 2020 certainly did not help wash away those lingering doubts.

So, I can understand why people are a little skeptical with ranking BYU high.  Except in contrast with most other years, this time we climbed against much, much better competition than in years past.  So, this year it seems a bit more unfair than usual.  We have not been beating up on the UNMs and UNLVs of the world, but I think most voters are lazy and barely recall BYU is no longer in the MWC or independent.

To me, the ESPN comments above reflect this same sort of shallow analysis - they aren't really watching the games or the opponents - I'm sure most are thinking we are in the same conference as Boise State or something.  I don't know how else to explain it.

Sorry for the ramble.