@Arizona - 50/50, might depend on timing of the game
@Cinci - I see a drop off of a team that started ok and fell off for the 2nd year in a row: W
@CU - they keep rotating players, but I think they are bad again: W
@Iowa St - they lost the whole team so are returning to pre-Campbell mediocrity: W
@TCU - they could be good: L
BYU - this will be the game of the year for many reasons (rivalry and conference chances): 50/50
Houston - they seem to be improving: 50/50, but we have them at home
Kansas - W
WVU - W
To me, 8-4 is baseline. We actually have a pretty favorable schedule - might be favored or close to even in all but the BYU game? But that might mean we end up playing only 2-3 ranked teams (BYU and TCU or UA or Houston), have to get the W’s because SOS and SOR are not going to be favorable in tiebreakers this year.
I’d be happy with 9-3 and a bowl win (but non-CFP and I think we have more opt-outs than last year). Things go our way in a couple games and 10 wins is not out of reach. Everything has to go right to make the CCG - likely a 9-0 vs 8-1 or 8-1 v 7-2 that wins tiebreakers. TTU likely the top again. I think we remain top 4 in the conference and in the hunt for the CCG late into the season unless injuries kick in. Conference might be a 2-bid league, but like this past year, only champion can be certain.
With ‘highly-touted’ 5-star Julian Lewis not able to lock down the starting job during a shared 3-9 campaign (Salter [played the most] out of eligibility, Staub went portal), Wilson coming in, and a ‘highly touted’ 3-star qb making out the qb room, not too worried . Honestly, their OL has not been good and their run game is garbage (and their top OL is in the portal, probably going to Texas). Defense not good either.
How many of us did stupid crap when we were 18-mid 20s? Probably all of us. This strikes me as par for the course of FAFO with life. Sometimes we hit that homerun, many times we don’t.
I’m currently watching, with concern a niece and nephew FAFO right now. They’re not happy with the results.
Just watching the highlights from Nicholas Igwe, the JuCo DE signed by the Utes today. The kid became an academic qualifier after one year so he’ll have three years of eligibility left. Looks like a beast at 6’4" and 255.
In order for this team to have a chance to compete two things need to happen:
On offense, Gross will need to do a masterful job of developing a competent OL in a very short period of time. I believe the talent to have a productive offense is there at the skill positions. I think there are bodies in the program who have the ability to develop. Whether they can do so in a short period of time is the question.
On defense, the Utes need a better DL. Looking back at the best Utah defenses, the tackles were brick walls and the edge players were 6’4" 250+ who could hold the edge and rush the QB. This past couple of years the defense was exposed because the DL could not hold the line and the group could not get pressure with 4 guys. I’m not sure we have the bodies in the program that can get this done.
the potential drawbacks I see is the first road game of the year is the first conference game of the season. The bye is very early in the year between week 4 and 5 Oct. 3rd.
I’m not sure what to make of the schedule. Seven home games will help. When is the last time Utah had seven home games? I’ll have to check. As an older fan, I do remember many seasons in the 80s when Utah only had five home games. Granted there were some 11-game seasons back then. Then there was the crazy 1995 season (Whit’s first as DC) when Utah had seven home games just four road games. Utah finished 7-4, but, oddly, they were 3-4 at home and 4-0 on the road.
. Honestly, their OL has not been good and their run game is garbage (and their top OL is in the portal, probably going to Texas). Defense not good either.
