at the time. The AP poll was not.
1990 Miami at #3 is better than 2008 Utah at #4.
USC at #1 in 04 is better than either of them.
BYU also played Notre Dame in 1993, and the Irish finished #2 in both polls.
The other team that should be up there is Florida State in 2000. The Seminoles were the defending National Champions and finished #5/4 (AP/Coaches). But the level of competition they played was insane. Florida State had two losses. One was a 13-2 defensive gridlock in the BCS National Championship game against Oklahoma. The other was a 27-24 road loss to #2 Miami. I'd put them up there higher than either 04 or 08 Utah.
Aside from 1984 BYU, what's the highest final ranking a Utah opponent has held?