Utah Football 2024 Season Preview - CFB Focus

Utah Football 2024 Season Preview
The 2023 Utah football season was gut-wrenching for fans. A well-coached and tough squad, hopes were high under Kyle Whittingham. Quarterback Cam Rising was recovering from a torn ACL in 2022 and pushing to get back on the field in 2023. Utah started the season strong at 6 and 1, but slowly started to slip in the second half. One by one, starters began to drop like flies from injury, and Rising never did make his debut, opting to take the season as a medical redshirt and focus on returning in 2024.
Finishing the year 8 and 5 with a bowl game loss to Northwestern was nothing short of a miracle, and Utah is looking for a fresh start in a Big 12 conference that is ripe for the taking.
Utah was ranked 92nd in total offense in 2023, so it is definitely looking for a bounceback. Health has been the biggest obstacle, but there is some serious upside, especially if Rising stays healthy and can stretch defenses with his arm. Andy Ludwig’s crew has a chance to border on dynamic - not something that’s often said about a Utah offense.
Utah is entering new territory in the Big 12 conference, and should be firmly planted as a top contender to win it in year one. It will face off against Oklahoma State and Arizona in back-to-back weeks in September, but could have smooth sailing after that. If Rising can stay healthy, the wide receiver room can develop quickly and the defense can band together with some of their new starters, Utah can absolutely win the Big 12, and earn its first-ever bid to the expanded College Football Playoff.
CFB Focus is predicting that Utah will go undefeated in the regular season and also defeat Arizona in the Big XII Championship Game. The Utes will enter the CFP unblemished with a chance to make some noise!

[@rogerharris5515]

Good review.