Utah Utes — No. 4
Previous ranking: 7
2021 record: 10-4 (8-1 Pac-12)
Returning starters: 6 offense, 6 defense, 2 special teams
Key departures: LB Devin Lloyd, LB Nephi Sewell, DE Mika Tafua, WR Britain Covey, RB TJ Pledger, C Nick Ford, OT Bamidele Olaseni, S Vonte Davis
Key additions: LB Mohamoud Diabate, QB Nathan Johnson, ATH Justius Lowe, LB Lander Barton, S Elijah Davis, LB Justin Medlock, WR Landon Morris, TE Logan Kendall, DE Gabe Reid
Spring update: If the Utes are going to repeat as Pac-12 champions, they’re going to have to rebuild a defense that lost many of its top playmakers, including All-American linebacker Lloyd. Barton, an early enrollee and younger brother of NFL players Cody and Jackson Barton, has made quite an impression on coach Kyle Whittingham this spring. Diabate, a Florida transfer, couldn’t do much this spring after having surgery for a torn labrum. After injuries decimated the secondary a year ago, the Utes are trying to build depth, especially after Davis and safety Brandon McKinney left.
Notes: As we said earlier, athlete Justius Lowe is not an addition for Utah; he signed with Oregon and is turning heads already during spring camp. Other than that, though, it’s hard to argue with this. Utah is going to be very good next year. Will it be the No. 4 team in the nation? Hard to say, but they should certainly be the favorites to win the Pac-12 conference once again.
Let’s see where USC is ranked…