College Football Preseason Rankings: No. 11 Utah Has Enough Players to Make the Playoffs, But Can the Utes Stay Fit?

Welcome to the first year of the 12 team College American Football Playoffs.

In preparation for the first four-round postseason in college football history, we’re counting down our predicted playoff field as the season approaches. The top five conference champions in the CFP selection committee’s rankings will advance to the playoffs, with the remainder of the field rounded out by seven at-large teams.

Who will win the national championship trophy on January 20 in Atlanta?

Previous previews: #25-13, No. 12 Boise State

No. 11 Utah

Last season in 100 words

The Utes began the season without QB Cam Rising and TE Brant Kuithe, with neither appearing on the field. Kuithe missed the season after suffering a season-ending knee injury in September 2022 and Rising was out after sustaining a serious knee injury at the end of the 2022 season during the Rose Bowl.

Without Rising — and a top receiver like Kuithe — Utah’s offense struggled. After averaging nearly 39 points per game in 2022, Utah scored just 23 points per game in 2023. The defense was exceptional as always — the Utes gave up just 19 points per game — but the offense’s struggles were the team’s limit.

Why Utah Can Make the Playoffs

This one’s pretty simple: Because Rising is healthy. The veteran returns for what will be his seventh and likely final season of college football. He emerged as Utah’s starter in 2021 after transferring from Texas before the 2020 season and has been even better in 2022. He threw for more than 3,000 yards and 26 TDs with just eight interceptions two seasons ago. He also rushed for 465 yards and six scores on the ground.

Rising has a strong case to be considered the best quarterback in a conference that includes Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Kansas’ Jalon Daniels. We wouldn’t be surprised if Rising’s rushing stats dip in 2024 due to the knee injury, but he should be one of the conference’s best passers.

Kuithe should also return to the field, along with running back Micah Bernard, after missing most of 2023. The offense also added former USC WR Dorian Singer.

The defense also could be just as good as it was in 2023. Nine starters are back, including leading tacklers Levani Damuni and Karene Reid. Sophomore Logan Fano had 3.5 sacks in three games last season, while edge rusher Connor O’Toole had 4.5 sacks. The pass rush should still be very good, even if the Utes will have to replace Jonah Elliss and his 12 sacks.

The other starter to move on to the NFL is defensive back Cole Bishop. But with three starters back in the secondary and some added depth via the transfer portal, replacing Bishop isn’t insurmountable.

Key player

Bernard played in just two games early in the season before suffering a season-ending injury. In his absence, Utah used a rotating cast of players at running back, including converted defensive back Sione Vaki. He even averaged 10.5 yards per carry against Cal in October.

Vaki is off to the NFL, and last year’s leading rusher, Ja’Quinden Jackson, is now at Arkansas. Jaylon Glover (562 yards in 2023) is back, but Bernard could emerge as the primary running back as the season progresses.

In 2021 and 2022, Bernard had 193 carries for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns, while also averaging over nine yards per catch. If he is back to full strength, like Rising and Kuithe, be on the lookout.

Biggest game

Utah can’t complain about the Big 12 schedule. Not only are the Utes the most talented team early in the season, they don’t have to play Kansas State at all in the regular season.

The absence of the Wildcats means that Utah’s trip to last season’s Big 12 runners-up is the biggest game of the season. It’s Utah’s first road game as a Big 12 member, and Oklahoma State returns 19 starters from a team that was 10-4 last season.

That OSU game is also the first in a crucial two-game series. Arizona visits on Sept. 28. The Wildcats lost coach Jedd Fisch to Washington, but they have a lot of talent on offense and are also a contender for the Big 12 title game. If the Utes are 5-0 going into their bye week the first week of October, they will be the undisputed favorites to win the Big 12.