The Houston Cougars are entering some season-defining weeks . Houston got a much-needed bye week after taking a disappointing 21-13 loss against the Utah Utes.

Here's where Cougars rank in the newest AP Top 25 rankings:

Houston Moves Up One Spot In the Rankings

The Cougars fell four spots in the AP Top 25 after the loss to Utah. The Cougars, after the bye week, moved up to No. 17.

On Tuesday, a major ranking will be released. The College Football Playoff rankings will be released for the first time in 2026. Finishing in the top 12 by the end of the season will be critical to a team's College Football Playoff chances. It will be interesting to see whether the Cougars rank higher, lower, or the same in the CFP rankings.

Houston is entering the end stretch of the season. Head coach Willie Fritz and Houston know a 9-3 team will struggle to enter the CFP. An SEC team, or even a Big Ten team, might find their way into the CFP, but a Big 12 team doesn't really have that luxury.…