The hype train is in motion! Choo choo!

[Larry B]

👀🔮 @RJ_Young has his early predictions for next season’s New Year’s Six Bowls

Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/68eT0L3GO3

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 20, 2021

[Tednab]

At some point.. we’re overdue

[PhiladelphiaUte]

Those look like some good matchups!  Hope to see a Tex-Tx A&M Sugar Bowl, and a Utah-[anyone] Rose!

[Utesbyfive]

I think we will get a lot of hype this year. I’m not buying any of it. I think I could have if we had Ty Jordan. RIP.

[Jake]

I agree that I don’t think we’re going to the rose bowl this year, although I think we’re capable of it, but we’ll be a top 25 team. We went 3-2 (should’ve been 4-1) with awful quarterback play, and we were still scoring a lot. Obviously no Ty RIP but we will have a good running back nonetheless, (won’t be surprised at all if it’s Bernard btw) and we return every starter minus Ritchie who will be replaced by Hubert who would’ve been the starter had he not been injured. Whoever the Quarterback is will be a lot better than Bentley was last year, and the defense was still very good despite losing almost all the starters, and will only get better with experience. I think 2021 is our year, but next year we will be a top 25 team for sure, and will compete for a south division.

[Yergensen]

Interesting, RJ Young didn’t have us in his early top 25 that he put out on Jan 11.  He had both Oregon and Washington ranked.  What changed since then?  Pledger and Curry transfers, which he must be weighting heavily.

[Utesbyfive]

Jackson and Brewer don’t hurt either.

[Ute Dub]

In a rebuilding year Utah’s defense was 13th against the run and 20th against pass with EVERYONE coming back. And Utah only played P5 teams in 2020, so, we have that going for us, which is nice! Opening against mid majors like Weber St. and BYU will help pad those stats.

[Redblood]

Not everyone. Nate Ritchie is going on an LDS mission.

[Jake]

Yes but Hubert should be 100% and he would’ve started had he been healthy.

[Ute Dub]

20th in the country with a completely new secondary last year. I think they’ll be ok without Ritchie for 2 years. Add back Hubert, Latue and some others. 

[noneyadb]

Not really sure what to take from a season where Utah played Colorado, Oregon St, Wazzu, UW, USC, and who knows how many players missed each game…

[MDUte]

I think we should be good next year but it seems like we should be even better in 2022. So between 2021 and 2022, hopefully the stars align for us to finally smell roses!

[Utah5410]

Hubert is an NFL Safety and would have started had he been healthy. Hubert is a beast.

[2008 National Champ]

Hubert couldn’t get on the field in 2019. Don’t get me wrong, I want the Utes to have an all-american at every position, but how about we let them prove it on the field before we anoint them.

[Jake]

He couldn’t get on the field because he was hurt, the year before when he came in for blackmon or burgess he didn’t miss a step, he’s quite good if he can get back to full health.

[Northendzone Ute5]

I was under the impression that Hubert wasn’t ready to play until the final game of the season, due to the acl injury? Seemed like he had some good reps in that final game.

[Jake]

You’re correct, they did not want to rush him back from injury, he would have been a starter had he been healthy.

[Tony (admin)]

chuga chuga chuga chuga

[2008 National Champ]

Sorry, but it is too early in the year to give me heartburn. I’m supposed to be excited about the SEC having two teams in the playoff while the Pac winner gets the B1G #2 in the Rose Bowl?