Utah will face a few tough challenges early, but are expected to be Playoff bound
Kyle Whittingham's 20-year tenure as the head coach of Utah's football team has been nothing short of remarkable. Under his leadership, the Utes have achieved numerous milestones, including a Mountain West conference championship, an undefeated season capped by a BCS bowl victory over Nick Saban’s Alabama, and two Pac-12 championships. However, one significant accomplishment remains elusive for Whittingham and his team: a berth in the College Football Playoff .
This season, however, brings new hope with the expansion of the CFP to 12 teams. The five highest-ranked conference champions will receive automatic bids, with the top four receiving a bye into the quarterfinals. This change means that winning the Big 12 conference could finally grant Utah its first-ever playoff berth. As Whittingham stated, “Our players were excited about the opportunity. We control our own destiny.
The sight of Rising back under center is reassuring for the coaching staff, especially after a challenging 2023 season for backups Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson. Utah’s passing offense struggled significantly, ranking No. 117 in FBS, and the team managed just 23.2 points per game. A healthy Rising, who looked impressive during spring practice, is anticipated to revitalize the offense, which averaged over 36 points per game in his last two full seasons.
Defensively, Utah returns a strong unit that was among the best in the nation last year, particularly in stopping the run. The defensive line and linebacker groups are expected to be formidable, though the secondary will see some new faces.
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