One year ago, Kyle Whittingham trudged off a rain-soaked field in Orlando, the weight of a grueling season hanging heavy on his shoulders. Utah had just wrapped up one of the most frustrating campaigns of Whittingham’s storied tenure - a year defined by injuries, inconsistency, and unmet expectations. His postgame words were measured but honest: “Way different season than we had hoped for.”
Fast forward twelve months, and the scene couldn’t have looked more different.
After a 31-21 win over Kansas to close out the regular season, Whittingham walked off the field flashing the “U” to a crowd of Utah fans, smiling like a man who knew his team had reclaimed its identity. The Utes finished the year 10-2, ranked No. 13 nationally, and with a bowl game on the horizon - a far cry from where they were at this time last year.
“It’s huge,” Whittingham said after the win. “I thought about maybe last year being the last go around, but I couldn’t - as I’ve said many times - I just couldn’t stomach ending on that.”
And you can’t blame him. Utah didn’t just bounce back - they reestablished themselves as a force in the Big 12, and they did it by rediscovering who they are offensively.
A season ago, the Utes were second-to-last in total offense in the conference. This year?
They’re second from the top in a 16-team league, averaging 478.6 yards per game - sixth-best in the nation.
That turnaround didn’t happen by accident. Whittingham made a bold move in the offseason, bringing in Jason Beck as offensive coordinator, and the results have been immediate.
The Utes are dynamic again. Balanced.
Explosive. And most importantly, confident.
The quarterback room, once a major question mark, now looks like a position of strength. Cam Rising, the face of the program for several seasons, quietly stepped away from football last year after a string of injuries.
But Utah has reloaded with young talent. Freshman Byrd Ficklin and sophomore Devon Dampier both have eligibility left and have shown enough to give the coaching staff real options moving forward.
Dampier, in particular, spoke to the team’s internal hunger for a reset. “When I got here in January, we were not happy with how last year went,” he said.
“A turnaround needed to happen. We demanded it.
Every day, coaches demanded out of us. The players, we demanded it, and captains and all that stuff.”
That collective mindset - from the top down - is what’s propelled Utah back into national relevance. The Utes didn’t just want to be better.
They expected to be. And they played like it.
Still, looming over all of this is the question that’s quietly been building all season: Will Kyle Whittingham be back in 2026?
The 64-year-old head coach has built Utah into one of the most consistently competitive programs in the country. But he’s also hinted that the end may be near.
According to his contract, Whittingham has until December 5 to inform the Utah Board of Trustees of his plans. Retire now, and longtime defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley - the designated head-coach-in-waiting - would likely take the reins.
But after Utah’s 10th win, Whittingham didn’t sound like a man ready to walk away.
“Right now is not the time to really comment on that or even think about it yet,” he said. “But yeah, everyone knows that’s out there, and we’ll see what happens.
But right now, I’m having a heck of a time coaching this team. Was a fun year and not quite over yet.
Got a little more football left to coach.”
That joy - that sense of unfinished business - was evident in Whittingham’s tone. He joked about spending Saturday “spread eagle on the couch” watching college football, decompressing, and reflecting.
Maybe clothed, maybe not. Classic Whitt - a mix of dry humor and hard-nosed football sensibility.
Regardless of what he decides in the coming days, the direction of the program is clear. Utah is back on solid footing.
The offense is humming. The defense remains disciplined and physical.
And the culture - the one Whittingham has spent two decades building - is as strong as ever.
“We needed to ... get things headed back in the right direction,” Whittingham said. “And I believe we’ve certainly done that this year.”
No matter what comes next, that part is undeniable.