Record (Week 4 result): 3-1 (defeated Arizona State, 34-13)
Rankings: 13th in AP, ninth in SP+, 10th in FPI
Current odds of reaching CFP: 6.8%
Fatal flaw: The red zone. Following a frustrating road loss to Florida in Week 1, the Utes responded by pummeling Southern Utah and San Diego State, then manhandled Arizona State 34-13 on the road. They have been dominant from an efficiency standpoint, and their once-deficient explosiveness numbers have begun to improve. They have created far more scoring chances than they’ve allowed.
They’ve also done far less with those chances. In goal-to-go situations, they’ve scored touchdowns only 54.5% of the time (118th), and their defense is one of 18 to have allowed touchdowns on 100% of opponents’ opportunities thus far. In red zone situations, the Utes have scored touchdowns 69.6% of the time (47th) to opponents’ 71.4% (97th). Small samples? Absolutely. But it cost them the Florida game, and with games against Oregon State, UCLA and USC on deck, it could cost them again soon.
Utah
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