Utah Enters Top 10 In ESPN's "Way-Too-Early" Top 25 Ranking

ESPN released their latest “Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Rankings” for the 2024 season, following a chaotic two months of college football coach musical chairs.

Among the most notable changes from ESPN’s previous “Way-Too-Early” ranking on Jan. 8th, include Michigan falling from sixth to 13th, Texas falling from second to fourth, and Alabama dropping from fourth to ninth.

While many teams suffered as a result of the offseason, some teams flourished. One of those teams is the Utah Utes.

Despite not being included within the Top 25 at the end of the 2023 season, ESPN has consistently picked the Utes to improve come next season. The sports entertainment company ranked the Utes at 13th in their Jan. 8th prediction. In their latest ranking, the Utes have risen to 10th.

“The Utes lost four games or more in each of the past three seasons, as they were undone by injuries and lost four of their last six games in 2023. With quarterback Cameron Rising returning from a knee injury that caused him to miss all of last season, the Utes could be much better in their first season in the Big 12,” wrote ESPN senior writer Mark Schlabach.

He continued, “Tight end Brant Kuithe is also coming back from a knee injury, along with tailback Micah Bernard. The Utes started four sophomores and a freshman on the offensive line last season, so that unit should grow up. After losing three starters in the secondary, Utah added safety Alaka'i Gilman (Stanford) and cornerbacks Cameron Calhoun (Michigan) and Kenan Johnson (Georgia Tech).”

Schlabach’s winter update of Utah's team paints a clear picture; if healthy, Utah should have an impressive first season in the Big 12.

In addition to the healthy players and transfer portal transplants noted by Schlabach, Utah also made other significant splashes this offseason. None is more impressive than the Utes complete overhaul at wide receiver.

After losing two of their best players at the position, DeVaughn Vele and Mikey Matthews, Utah made waves in the transfer portal by acquiring the services of USC’s Dorian Singer and Washington’s Taeshaun Lyons. The Utes also added UCLA tight end Carsen Ryan to bolster their offensive weapons.

With an improved offense thanks to transfer portal additions and the health of players like Rising, Kuithe, and Bernard, Utahs offense should be explosive in 2024. This explosiveness is valuable considering a lack of explosive offense is one of the factors that caused Utah to falter in 2023.

Utah will not have it easy come next season. Although they are the highest-ranked Big 12 team according to ESPNs ranking, four different in-conference opponents also made the cut.

Utah plays two of these teams, Oklahoma State (No. 17) and Arizona (No. 11), in 2024. The Utes will likely play another if they make it to the Big 12 Championship game.