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SALT LAKE CITY — Spring practices have concluded and we’ve entered the doldrums of summer without college football. Yes, I know, we’re all suffering. However, football is always on our minds.
Earlier in the month, the NCAA released its strength of schedule method, ranking each football program based on win/loss records and the winning percentage of opponents from the previous season. As a result, the University of Utah is in for a difficult season — or so says last year’s teams.
Although last season’s record may not predict the upcoming season, it’s a good indicator of expected level of difficulty and competition. The Utes rank No. 11 in the nation, with its opponents combining for a 98-59 record. Arkansas gets the honor (or displeasure) of having the most difficult schedule in the country, with its opponents combing for a 103-54 record.
Utah leads the Pac-12 in strength of schedule, with runner-up California coming in at No. 17.
The schedule for Utah is similar to last season, playing all the same Pac-12 opponents; however, its non-conference schedule features a difficult Fresno State team at Rice-Eccles Stadium and a daunting road game at Michigan in Week 4.
The ranking of the remaining Pac-12 teams is as follows: USC (29), Washington State (36), Stanford (42), Arizona (49), Oregon (49), Arizona State (52), UCLA (60), Oregon State (60), Colorado (66), and Washington (77).
| Utah 2014 Schedule | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Location | |
| **Thursday, Aug. 28** |  | **Idaho State Bengals** | **Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT** |
| **Saturday, Sept. 6** |  | **Fresno State Bulldogs** | **Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT** |
| **Saturday, Sept. 13** |  | **Open Date** | |
| **Saturday, Sept. 20** |  | **@ Michigan Wolverines** | **Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI** |
| **Saturday, Sept. 27** |  | **Washington State Cougars** | **Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT** |
| **Saturday, Oct. 4** |  | **@ UCLA Bruins** | **Rose Bowl, Los Angeles, CA** |
| **Saturday, Oct. 11** |  | **Open Date** | |
| **Thursday, Oct. 16** |  | **@ Oregon State Beavers** | **Reser Stadium, Corvallis, OR** |
| **Saturday, Oct. 25** |  | **USC Trojans** | **Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT** |
| **Saturday, Nov. 1** |  | **@ Arizona State Sun Devils** | **Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ** |
| **Saturday, Nov. 8** |  | **Oregon Ducks** | **Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT** |
| **Saturday, Nov. 15** |  | **@ Stanford Cardinal** | **Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA** |
| **Saturday, Nov. 22** |  | **Arizona Wildcats** | **Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT** |
| **Saturday, Nov. 29** |  | **@ Colorado Buffaloes** | **Folsom Field, Boulder, CO** |
