The Big 12 could be a bit like the wild west with how it looks now with its 16 teams. A west-coast power of late in Utah, though, makes an early case as a favorite to win the conference in 2024.
On3’s Andy Staples and Ari Temkin of Big 12 Radio assessed all the ceilings and floors for the Big 12, includes the Utes’, for the upcoming season on Monday. To start, Staples sees them as an easy pick to keep their success going so long as Cam Rising, who will be in his seventh collegiate season after missing all of last year with an injury, is again the player that we’ve come to know him as.
“If we’re just saying, ‘Alright, who can get to the playoff? Who can win games in the playoff if they make it to the playoff?’? How about the team that won the Pac-12 in two of the last three years that the Pac-12 existed? The Utah Utes,” said Staples.
“Kyle Whittingham has done an incredible job with this program. They get Cam Rising back,” Staples said. “Last season did not go as planned because Cam Rising got hurt in The Rose Bowl that ended the season before. His knee injury was so serious that it really cost him the whole year. If Cam Rising is back and looks anything like he looked when he led Utah to two consecutive Pac-12 titles? This team is going to be really tough to deal with.”
Temkin agreed considering how much better that many think the offense is going to be. That unit will then combine with a typically tough defense to create another successful season in Salt Lake City, if not one of their most successful in school history.
“There’s a lot to like about this team. We had Rece Davis on our show a few weeks ago and he referred to Utah as ill-tempered lads. He said Utah plays like ill-tempered lads. It’s a great way to put it. Like, they’re just meat and potatoes. They will knock you off the ball, they’re going to be physical with you,” Temkin said. “I love that they added Dorian Singer in the transfer portal at wide receiver. I think with him, along with Money Parks, Utah is going to have a decent passing game, especially, as you mentioned, with Rising. Brant Kuithe? As much as we talk about Rising being back, how about Brant Kuithe returning?”
“There’s a ton of talent here,” noted Temkin. “They should be a much-improved team from last year given the Cam Rising situation. I think he’s going to be fine, come back, and play at a high level.
Ceiling: Top-four seed in the College Football Playoff
For Utah’s ceiling, both Temkin and Staples would have them making the College Football Playoff. That would come after winning the Big 12 Championship, which would earn them one of the top four seeds in the field in the first selection of the 12-team format.
“I’ve got their ceiling as being a top-four seed in the CFP,” Temkin said.
“I think that’s exactly right,” agreed Staples.
Floor: 9-3
As for the Utes’ floor, Staples and Temkin had their record at 9-3. That mark would have them in the running for an at-large spot in the playoff. It would also be right on track with recent finishes of 10-4 in 2021 and 2022 and 8-4 in 2023.
Under the assumption that Rising is healthy, they each think that all that will be between them and that ceiling is a matchup in the Big 12 Championship, which they believe will likely be a game against K-State.
“Their floor? Eh, I think we’re talking 9-3 as the floor as long as Cam Rising stays healthy,” said Staples. “They don’t have to play Kansas State in the regular season. I think we’re kind of – if you’re following along with us, you see that we think there’s some teams that can jump in here. But, I don’t know about you, my expectation, if all goes kind of chalky, is a Utah-Kansas State Big 12 Championship Game, which would be a hell of a game.”
“Agreed,” Temkin concurred.
What you see is what you get with Utah, which is a hard-nosed and physical program under Whittingham. However, if they can recreate another offense that’s either good enough to great with Rising, the Utes could reach a whole new level in their first season in the Big 12.
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