#29 Utah Utes |
#3 in Pac 12 |
The Utes entered the Pac 12 Championship Game positioned to maybe get into the College Football Playoff with a win, sitting at #5 in the nation, 11-1 overall, on an eight game winning streak, where they were winning by an average of 29 ppg, with only one game (a 33-28 win at Washington) being closer than 18 points. Utah went out and lost their final two games, being that conference title game followed by a lackluster Alamo Bowl against Texas, by a combined 50 points. They had spent all year leaning too hard on their defense, which had only twice all year given up more than 17 points, and it finally broke, surrendering 75 points over those two games. So while dropping a team that was one game away from the Playoff entirely out of the top 25 seems harsh, that defense needs a near total reboot, to replace 7 senior starters, and two underclassmen who left early. The Utes lost 73% of their defensive production, most in the nation. Fortunately they were one of the best defenses in the nation a year ago. Few teams return only two starters on a side of a ball...yet still return two all-conference honorees; but few have 10 of 11 starters earn all-conference honors. The run defense, which was tops in the nation a year ago, should continue to be strong, led by linebacker Devin Lloyd, who led the team in tackles, with 91, and tackles for loss, with 11, as a sophomore last year. Mike Tafua is the best pass rusher on the line, but he’ll have to figure out how to operate without sack king Bradlee Anae drawing double and triple teams across from him, plus a pair of new interior linemen. A new name to watch in the secondary is freshman cornerback Clark Phillips III from Lakewood, California. Phillips is the #50 overall prospect, and #5 cornerback, who was committed to Ohio State, until his lead recruiter, Jeff Hafley, left to take the Boston College head coaching job. The beneficiary is the Utes, who made Phillips, the highest rated recruit in school history, the crown jewel of their highest rated class in school history. Considering the four highest rated players in the class all play on defense, I would bet on seeing them getting a chance to contribute immediately. While the offense only lost four starters, its four starters who saw the ball a lot, including starting quarterback, starting running back, and best receiver. Utah would probably looking for new wideouts to emerge either way, after tight end Brant Kuithe led the team in receptions and receiving yards, and tailback Zack Moss was second. Tyler Huntley was insanely accurate, his 73.1% completion rate was second nationally to Joe Burrow; and his 10.3 ypa was third, behind Burrow and Jalen Hurts. But Utah only threw the ball 22.7 times per game, ahead of only four triple option teams, Buffalo, Kentucky and Wyoming. With an unknown running back situation, and a less mobile South Carolina’s Jake Bentley transferring in, that has to change. Bentley, and whoever emerges at running back should get to benefit from at least what might be the best offensive line in the conference, even if it lacks the top end NFL star power of Oregon’s. So while dropping Utah entirely out of the top 25 seems harsh, it’s actually a sign of respect that I’m not dropping them farther, considering they are a newly minted Power Five team, who lost more production than anyone in the FBS.
| KEY PLAYERS |
TE | Brant Kuithe, Junior |
T | Simi Moala, Sophomore |
G | Nick Ford, Junior |
| . |
DE | Mike Taufa, Junior |
DE | Maxs Tupai, Senior |
LB | Devin Lloyd, Junior |