The most reliable way to predict the final top 25 is to use recruiting rankings, so Texas makes sense. If they keep recruiting like a top program, eventually they will perform like one.
Utah at 15 shows a lot of respect, but it’s crazy based on how we looked last season and what we lost.
We’ve never had a top 15 recruiting class. We’ve also never had a top 5 recruiting class. Yet we’ve finished in the top 5 twice since 2000. I think two things impact Utah. First, we get a lot of guys in somewhat unconventional ways. Guys like Star Lotulelei, who was moving pianos, or something, when we convinced him to try football again. Second, the transfer portal is a net positive for us. The highest recruiting class I remember was #22.
I think the games I am most interested (which are big for P12)
LSU at UCLA 9-4
Oregon at Buckeyes 9-11
Texas A&M at CU 9-11
Oregon State at Purdue 9-11
KState at Stanford 9-11
Cal at TCU 9-11
UW at Michigan 9-11
Utah at Zoobs 9-11
After September 11th we’ll know how the nation will look at the Pac 12.