By Jay Berry
The 2023 college football season saw the shakeup of conferences, with conference realignment and the end of the Pac-12. Former Pac-12 football programs are scattered throughout different conferences.
One of those former Pac-12 programs with a chance to succeed during the first season at their new conference is Utah in the Big 12.
Preseason projection
Utah sits at the top of the Big 12 preseason projected win totals, with a projected win total of 9.5. Let’s look at why that is:
Coaching stability
Kyle Whittingham enters his 20th season as the head coach at the University of Utah, which is preparing for its first season in the Big 12. Whittingham is considered one of the best coaches in college football. Because of that, Utah was a consistent contender in the Pac-12.
In 2021 and 2022, Utah won back-to-back Pac-12 championships. The Utes are coming off a 2023 season in which they had an overall record of 8-5. However, they had some key injuries on offense.
Returning players and Portal additions
On offense, they return good production, along with some key players returning from injury. Quarterback Cam Rising and tight-end Brant Kuithe are back. They also return running back Micah Bernard, who missed 11 games in 2023.
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They also added wide receiver Dorian Singer, who transferred from USC and had previously played at Arizona. ESPN has Singer as Utah’s most exciting transfer portal addition. Singer will be a solid addition to the Utah receiving group that includes seniors Money Parks and Mycah Pittman.
On defense, the Utes lost some key contributors. Still, they will return Zemaiah Vaughn, Karene Reid, and added secondary help through the portal with Alaka’i Gilman from Stanford and Georgia Tech’s Kenan Johnson.
Schedule
In addition to their coaching stability and solid roster, they also have a favorable schedule in 2024. They don’t play Kansas State or Kansas. Four of their conference games are against teams with projected win totals of less than six games, and their first conference game is at home when they play Baylor.
They will have a tough road test when they travel to Stillwater to play Oklahoma State, with offensive stars quarterback Alan Bowman and elite running back Ollie Gordon returning.
It’s still early, but the Big 12 could see a newcomer make some noise this year.
