With Utah officially out of the Big 12 title race and its College Football Playoff hopes all but gone, the Utes now turn their attention to the next best thing: bowl season. And while they won’t be playing for a conference crown, they’ve still put together a strong enough résumé to earn a solid postseason invite.
Utah closed out its regular season with a 31-21 win over Kansas, pushing its record to 10-2 and extending its win streak to five games. That kind of finish speaks volumes-not just about the team’s consistency, but also about how well Kyle Whittingham’s group bounced back after midseason bumps. Still, thanks to Arizona’s Black Friday win over Arizona State, it’s Texas Tech and BYU who will square off in the Big 12 Championship Game-a rematch of their November 8 clash, which the Red Raiders won convincingly, 29-7.
So, where does that leave Utah? Despite a top-15 ranking in the penultimate College Football Playoff poll, the Utes are on the outside looking in when it comes to the 12-team bracket.
That means no playoff, no conference title shot-just bowl season. But don’t get it twisted: this team is still very much in the mix for a quality postseason matchup.
Bowl Picture: What’s on the Table for Utah
Utah’s bowl path is a little different from the rest of the Big 12. Because of existing contracts that run through the 2025 season, the former Pac-12 schools-including Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Oregon, USC, Washington, and even Washington State-will be considered for bowls tied to Pac-12 affiliations. That opens up a unique set of possibilities, especially with Oregon likely headed to the College Football Playoff, which frees up a higher-tier bowl slot for another Pac-12 affiliate.
Here’s a breakdown of where Utah could land:
Alamo Bowl (San Antonio, TX)
This one feels like a real possibility. The Alamo Bowl has built a reputation as one of the premier non-New Year’s Six bowls, often featuring ranked matchups with national intrigue.
Since 2015, nine of its games have featured AP Top 25 teams, with five of those decided by a touchdown or less. That’s the kind of competitive energy bowl organizers love.
Utah, sitting at No. 15 with 10 wins, fits the bill. The Utes haven’t played in the Alamo Bowl since 2019, when they ran into a red-hot Sam Ehlinger-led Texas squad and came out on the wrong end of a 38-10 result. A return trip would offer a chance at redemption-and a marquee opponent.
But they’re not the only ones in the mix. USC (9-3, ranked No. 17) is another strong candidate, and if BYU (ranked No. 11) doesn’t sneak into the playoff, the Cougars could be in line for a second straight Alamo Bowl appearance. That said, last year’s edition already featured two Big 12 teams, and the bowl may look to avoid a repeat of that setup.
Holiday Bowl (San Diego, CA)
The Holiday Bowl has shifted gears in recent years, now featuring an ACC opponent after a long run of Big Ten-Pac-12 matchups. With that in mind, Utah could be an intriguing option-though not necessarily the most likely.
Cal (7-5) makes sense geographically, and bowl organizers might lean that way to avoid a same-conference matchup. The ACC side could feature Georgia Tech (9-3), SMU (8-4), or even Clemson (7-5), depending on how the chips fall.
Utah last played in the Holiday Bowl in 2018, falling 31-20 to Northwestern. Given the Utes’ current standing and the bowl’s likely desire for cross-conference variety, another trip to San Diego might be a long shot-but not out of the question.
Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas, NV)
This one might be the most realistic option. The ESPN-owned Las Vegas Bowl has ties to both the Pac-12 and Big Ten, and Utah returning to Allegiant Stadium would mark its second postseason appearance there in three years.
The last time? A gritty 14-7 loss to Northwestern in the 2023 edition.
This year, a matchup against a Big Ten team like Iowa (8-4) or Nebraska (7-5) could be on the table. It’s a convenient location for Utah fans, and the bowl’s organizers would likely welcome a 10-win team with a passionate fan base and a history of showing up in big games.
Also worth noting: Utah is already set to return to Allegiant Stadium in 2027 for the Vegas Kickoff Classic against Miami, so this could be a preview of sorts.
Los Angeles Bowl (Inglewood, CA)
The LA Bowl hasn’t seen a Pac-12 team with more than seven wins in its short history, but that could change this year. There are several teams in the eight- to nine-win range, and even a 10-2 UNLV squad from the Mountain West that could make for a compelling matchup.
That said, Utah might be a bit too high-profile for this game. With their record and ranking, the Utes probably have better odds of landing in one of the previously mentioned bowls.
Sun Bowl (El Paso, TX)
Utah hasn’t played in the Sun Bowl since 2011, when Star Lotulelei and the Utes edged Georgia Tech, 30-27. Since then, the Sun Bowl hasn’t been kind to Pac-12 teams-four straight losses, with the last win coming in 2019 when Arizona State topped Florida State.
This year, Arizona State (8-4) could be in line for a return trip to El Paso, which might push Utah out of the conversation. Still, if things shake out a certain way, the Sun Bowl could be a fallback option.
What’s Next?
Utah’s next big moment comes Sunday morning, when the College Football Playoff selection show airs at 10 a.m. MT on ESPN. While the Utes won’t be in the playoff bracket, that’s when the rest of the bowl matchups will be revealed-and Utah will finally know where it’s heading for the postseason.
Wherever they land, one thing’s clear: this Utah team is still one of the most complete and battle-tested squads in the country. They’ve weathered injuries, navigated a new conference, and still came out with 10 wins. That’s not just bowl-worthy-that’s a team that deserves a spotlight.