Utah might be new to the Big 12 Conference, but the Utes aren’t new to preseason Top 25 rankings.
ESPN’s Greg McElroy put the Utes at No. 18 in his preseason Top 25 rankings in their first year in the Big 12 after coming over from the Pac-12 Conference.
Utah is one of six Big 12 teams to make the Top 25 along with No. 16 Oklahoma State, No. 19 Kansas State, No. 22 Arizona, No. 23 West Virginia and No. 24 Kansas.
The Utes are led by the return of two seventh-year players who missed 2023 with injuries in quarterback Cam Rising and tight end Brent Kuithe. They also have one of the most respected coaches in college football with Kyle Whittingham, who is in his 20th season.
Utah opens the season on Aug. 29 at home against Southern Utah.