UTES come in at #15

[PAC12Teams]

Phil Steele thinks Utah has something going on.  

What Steele says: “This may be Kyle Whittingham’s best team yet as he has a talented team with 19 returning starters and then enriched it with the Transfer Portal. The Utes may be a dog in only one game this year and make my Surprise Team list again.”

247 says: Our take: Surprised to see the Utes inside the Top 15? We were, but Steele makes valid points based on veteran leadership and schedule favorability, two factors that usually play into a banner season at any program. Whittingham has shown what it takes to win during his career as a head coach and Utah doesn’t appear to have any notable weaknesses. 

Washington # 9

USC # 13

Utah # 15

Oregon # 19

Phil Steel’s Top 25

[leftyjace]

Doesn’t appear to have any notable weaknesses?

How DARE they get my hopes up like that. HOW DARE THEY.

[UteBacker]

In Phil I trust.  No one does their homework like that guy.  

[2008 National Champ]

In the playoff era, #15 translates to a 9-3 season.

2014: Arizona State (9-3)
2015: Oregon (9-3)
2016: Western Michigan (13-0). Otherwise Auburn (8-4) and West Virginia (10-2) would be 14 and 16 so (9-3).
2017: TCU (10-3) after loss in CCG. Otherwise (10-2).
2018: Texas (9-4) after loss in CCG. Otherwise (9-3).
2019: Notre Dame (10-2). #14 Michigan (9-3), #16 Iowa (9-3).

[UteBacker]

That sounds about right to me.  Losses to USC & Oregon and then tack on one other loss to UCLA, Stanford, or Arizona State.

[2008 National Champ]

I’d like 9-3 but just can’t get there yet. SC, Oregon and ASU are going to define the season but I just keep looking at the schedule and worrying about San Diego State.

SDSU should come into that game 2-0 and feeling good about themselves after beating Arizona while Utah will be coming off the parochial school so it feels like a trap game. SDSU won’t be the same team they were under Rocky Long but I don’t think they are scared of the Pac teams. They seem to play at least one game a year and win a few.

[EagleMountainUte]

Phil Steele knows a lot more about these things than me. But my brain still is wait and see when it comes to Oline. Which directly points at the QB and rushing attack. Now Utah has proven to be a rush first team with amazing blocking to help it along. Keeping the qb upright and able to go through progressions is a bit trickier.
Defensively this might be better than 2015. Yes I said it.

[Yergensen]

This defense will not be great until it consistently threatens opposing QBs with the pass rush.

[CB]

Take it to the bank, the pash rush will be phenomenal this year

[FtheY]

15 sacks, I do believe. 

[2008 National Champ]

13 of them will have to be split between the linebackers / safeties. The D Line is great against the run but hasn’t shown that they can get to the QB regularly.

[ironman1315]

Per game bitches!!!

[EagleMountainUte]

Van Fillinger get used to hearing his name soon.

[Utesbyfive]

I think you’re right. Fillinger and Carlton are going to start making a noticeable impact this year.

[MDUte]

I’m surprised Steele puts Washington so high at #9. With the way Cristobal has things rolling, recruiting-wise, I’d flip those 2 putting Oregon at #9 and Washington at #19.

But #15 sounds about right to me for our Utes!

[Central Coast Ute]

Cristobal is good at recruiting with Nike money, people just aren’t confident in his coaching yet.