[Minnesota Ute]

For most of the past decade, it’s been apples and oranges. What BYU did in the WCC is more analogous to what we did back in the MWC/WAC back in the day. It’s a lot easier to put up a gaudy record and get into the rankings if you don’t play in a conf with a lot of depth. Back in the day, it was Utah and maybe 2 or 3 others (UNM, UNLV, TCU, BYU, etc) in any given year that were good. Similar to Gonzaga St. Mary & BYU. You get 2 to 3 bids a year, you can almost always get one of them.

Since we moved up a notch conf-wise, it’s been a huge struggle. In the P12 specifically, there was a lot of teams beating each other and nobody really rising to the top. In that environment, the name programs (UCLA, Oregon, Arizona, etc) seem to get the benefit of the doubt and unfortunately, we just could never string together enough success to get or keep our name relevant. We even had a couple of years where we might have had an argument for an at large, but alas, our success such as it was came too late in the year to save us, or too early in the season to remain credible.

Quite frankly, I’m really sick of it. I’m am really hoping AJ puts a stop to it, because sucking sucks.

[BeachUte]

I agree it’s apples to oranges but Utah also benefited from a tougher schedule, higher RPI and positioned much stronger for the NCAAs than if they were in a two-bid league.

The reality is that Utah missed the NCAAs at least four times under the last two coaches because of some bad losses that popped their bubble or super weak preseason scheduling that doomed them despite better-than-average finishes in the Pac-12. There is zero excuse for Utah missing the NCAAs despite a top-four finish in the Pac-12 and yet, three-straight seasons Utah missed, and weren’t even a bubble team (2017, 2018 and 2019) despite some seasons teams below them in the Pac-12 getting a bid. Had Utah scheduled properly and proved more competitive with the top of the conference, Larry K would still be coaching here. Alas…

But again, and I can’t stress this enough: this isn’t about BYU. They were but one team mentioned since Utah was put in this imaginary league with them.

Look at Colorado as a program Utah probably could have been with more competent coaching. The Buffaloes entered the conference at the same time as Utah and yet, made the NCAAs seven times to Utah’s two.

Utah has largely been unsuccessful where it counts the most the last fifteen years. Colorado, BYU, SDSU, regardless of their situation, haven’t. So, the point is that I don’t understand the ire of Utah being lumped in with these programs when, for 20 years, they’ve all consistently been better than Utah.

[Tyler Henry]

The last two seasons have taught me not to invest too much emotionally into each game. I know Utah is capable of being very good, but nothing is guaranteed. If we lose, we lose. If we win, great! As long as each game is entertaining.

[UteThunder]

Given how much of an unknown our WRs are, and how low expectations are for that group, they can make huge strides and still not be good enough to prevent Snowden from being needed to go both ways.

[chinngiskhaan]

I’m in the same boat. If it motivates them to work harder and makes our team better, I’m all for it. I just don’t want everyone watching the game to know what is going to happen when certain players come on the field. The only time that should be the case is with a kicker or punter.

[bopahull]

I have no problem with 2 way players as long as they aren’t used in predictive ways.

[Tyler Henry]

Why would you potentially give UCLA the nod? UCLA also has many new faces, and Utah fans will be more than present.

I still give Utah a 65/35% chance of victory, I like the odds.

[Ute Dub]

I’ve lost faith in Mokofisi. I know he apparently had an injury that NOBODY is willing to say what it is, but he hasn’t improved his PFF grades since his freshman year. Why? Why hasn’t he improved? OLine is an area you should be getting better if you have the reps. I hope someone else wins over him if he’s not going to improve his grades.

[2008 National Champ]

I feel like the biggest advantage for Utah against Nico is that it will be his first game in a new system

He’s faced defenses as good or better than Utah’s and played against better athletes. And most people point to the 2nd year starting being the biggest jump in performance. But by getting him early, it should offset the normal progression in performance that teams later in the season will have to deal with.

Utah’s DB’s will need to be assignment sound because he will take chances. There should be opportunities on both sides to make big plays

[2008 National Champ]

It was a really long two years

[Author]

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