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SALT LAKE CITY — "Death, taxes and Utah football" success — count on all three happening, so proclaims lead Fox college football analyst Joel Klatt.
Indicative of such high praise, Klatt ranks the Utes eighth in his self-titled way-too-early football poll for next season. Utah and Notre Dame are only two programs outside the newly constructed Big Ten and Southeastern Conference to make his top 10, meaning Klatt believes the Utes will win the Big 12 in their first season transitioning from the dearly departed Pac-12.
"I should probably apologize because, you know what, this is probably too low," Klatt said of Utah's preseason ranking on his podcast. "Utah is going to be a formidable team, if not one of the best teams in the country next year."
His prediction proves once again that national pundits have typically showered Utah's traditionally tough program with love the last several years. Respect runs deep for Kyle Whittingham, whose no-nonsense mantra always resonates with media around the country.
Entering his 20th season at the helm, the program's winningest coach has guided Utah to double-digit win totals in three of the last four full seasons. The well-documented injury to quarterback Cam Rising likely played a large factor in the Utes enduring a disappointing 8-5 record last season.
Rising, who turns 25 years old in May, will return for a seventh year of college after sitting out all last season. Tight end Brant Kuithe, who has been out recovering from a knee injury suffered in September 2022, also is coming back for a seventh season.
"Cam Rising comes back, highly experienced, it's his 137th year of college football," Klatt said, slightly exaggerating. "They get Kuithe back at tight end. They're going to be fine on the defensive side."
Most prognosticators are correctly correlating the anticipated success to Rising's full return to health, which will be desperately needed given the complete lack of experience behind him on the roster. Mirroring the image of a tough, physical player, Rising has missed games in each of his last three seasons due to injury.
Playing devil's advocate if history is an indication, don't expect Utah to breeze through the schedule. In the 12 full years in the Pac-12, the Utes have lost at least four games in every season but one.
None of the teams ahead of Utah in Klatt's top 10 lost more than two games last season. The Utes have lost a combined 13 games the last three seasons, including all three bowl games.
Mark Harlan: 2023 season 'might have been the best coaching job' of Whittingham's career
Utah athletic director Mark Harlan said the 2023 season may have been Kyle Whittingham's best coaching of his career.Klatt's faith in the defense likely is based on a well-deserved reputation that Utah has built over the years of serving as a pipeline to the NFL. Staying true to form, the Utes are losing three starters — sack leader Jonah Ellis and the two starting safeties Cole Bishop and Sione Vaki — who are leaving early for the NFL draft. Depth in the secondary and linebacker also took a hit, but both starting units are expected to be strong.
With Ja'Quinden Jackson transferring to Arkansas, the Utes will need a settle on a lead running back from among several candidates. They also lost two starting offensive linemen to the draft.
Still, there's every reason to believe Utah will compete for the Big 12 championship next season. And under the new 12-team format, the conference winner will make the expanded playoff.
"In the new Big 12, they will be favored to win that conference," Klatt said, "and if they do, they will not only make the playoff but have one of those coveted top four seeds and a bye in the first round. This is a year in which Utah can make huge in-roads towards actually competing for a national championship."
Mark it down, along with death, taxes and losing teams complaining about the officiating, Utah football routinely draws high praise in the offseason.
