In ESPN’s “Way-Too-Early” Top 25 Ranking, Utah Breaks Into the Top 10.
Michigan dropped from sixth to 13th, Texas dropped from second to fourth, and Alabama dropped from fourth to ninth in ESPN’s previous “Way-Too-Early” rating, which was released on January 8. These are some of the more prominent changes.A few teams prospered during the offseason, but many other teams suffered. The Utah Utes are among those groups.
Even though the Utes were not ranked in the Top 25 at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign, ESPN has predicted that they will get better the following year. In its Jan. 8th projection, the sports entertainment firm placed the Utes at number thirteen. The Utes have moved up to 10th place in their most recent standings.
The injuries decimated the Utes, who dropped four of their final six games in 2023. They also lost four or more games in each of the previous three seasons. The Utes should be much better in their first season in the Big 12, according to ESPN senior writer Mark Schlabach, with quarterback Cameron Rising returning from a knee injury that kept him out of action for the entire previous campaign.
Along with tailback Michal Bernard, tight end Brett Kuithe is recovering from a knee ailment, he said. The offensive line should mature because the Utes started four sophomores and a freshman there last season. Utah added cornerbacks Cameron Calhoun (Michigan) and Kenan Johnson (Georgia Tech) and safety Alaka’i Gilman (Stanford) after losing three starters in the secondary.
Utah should have an outstanding first season in the Big 12, according to Schlabach’s winter assessment of the squad. If healthy. Utah made several noteworthy splashes this offseason in addition to the healthy players and transfer portal transplants mentioned by Schlabach. The Utes’ comprehensive makeover at wide receiver is the most remarkable of them all.
Utah made ripples in the transfer portal by adding USC’s Dorian Singer and Washington’s Taeshaun Lyons, following the losses of two of their top players at the position, DeVaughn Vele and Mikey Matthews. To strengthen their offensive weaponry, the Utes also signed Carsen Ryan, a tight end from UCLA.
In 2024, Utah’s offensive should be lethal because of the better offense brought about by the addition of the transfer portal and the healthy status of players like Rising, Kuithe, and Bernard. Given that one of the things that made Utah struggle in 2023 was a lack of an explosive attack, this explosiveness is valuable.
The next season is going to be difficult for Utah. Despite being the top-ranked Big 12 club in ESPN’s rankings, four other in-conference opponents were included. In 2024, Utah will face two of these teams: No. 17 Oklahoma State and No. 11 Arizona. If the Utes advance to the Big 12 Championship game, they will most likely play another.