Utah opened preseason poll season with a spot that says plenty about how coaches view the program’s staying power: the Utes landed at No. 21 in the Football Coaches Preseason Poll.
That placement comes after an 11-win season, but nothing about Utah’s offseason made a top-25 return automatic. Kyle Whittingham’s move to Michigan, multiple players heading to the NFL, several transfer portal departures and more than five assistant coaches leaving for the Wolverines all created real questions about whether Utah could again stack up as a double-digit-win team.
The coaches still gave the Utes the nod, and the Big 12 representation around them shows Utah isn’t alone near the top of the league. Texas Tech checked in at No. 12 and BYU at No. 15, while Houston was the only other Big 12 team in the rankings at No.
- TCU narrowly missed the cut, and Arizona and Oklahoma State were among the first 15 teams left outside the top 25.
What likely helped Utah was the return of quarterback Devon Dampier, along with the fact that most of the defensive coaching staff stayed in place. Morgan Scalley’s reputation carried real weight here; he has long been regarded as one of the country’s best defensive coordinators, and the Utes’ defensive staff has a track record of getting players to another level.
The roster still has work to do. Utah has to rebuild its entire starting five on the offensive line, but the pieces around that group are appealing.
The skill positions, especially at wide receiver and running back, are deep enough to keep the Utes dangerous. Braden Pegan stands out as the top prize from Utah’s transfer portal class, and Wayshawn Parker looks primed to become one of the Big 12’s best backs.
No. 21 feels reasonable given what Utah lost, but there’s also a case for a slightly better spot. The three teams just ahead of the Utes all come with notable questions.
SMU, sitting at No. 20, is breaking in completely new skill talent and still needs an elite pass rusher. Washington at No. 19 must replace its top skill players and also work in a new defensive line.
Tennessee, ranked No. 18, still hasn’t named a starting quarterback and brings back only a few defensive starters.
Even without Whittingham on the sideline, Utah’s recent run has clearly earned respect nationally. Scalley is one of only four new head coaches with a team in the preseason top 25, joining Lane Kiffin at LSU, Matt Campbell at Penn State and Whitt at Michigan.
Whether the Utes justify this ranking will play out over the season, but the schedule gives them a chance to build momentum early and stay in the conversation as one of the nation’s top 25 teams again.
In Other News...
Utahs Offense Has One Wild Card Fans Should Be Watching
ESPNs latest look at preseason college football X factors included a familiar name for Utah fans, with the Utes landing in a category that usually says a lot about where the questions still are as camp turns toward the fall. The piece also highlighted BYU linebacker Cade Uluave, but from Utahs side, the focus was on a player who spent last season showing he could be a real option with the ball in his hands.
Byrd Ficklins profile is a reminder that Utahs offense may not be as settled as it looks from the outside, especially with the staff still sorting out how best to use the depth chart behind the starter. Ficklins freshman season already gave the Utes a glimpse of what he can do, and that makes him one of the more interesting wild cards on the roster as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]