College football preseason rankings: No. 11 Utah has pieces to make playoff, but will Utes stay healthy?

Welcome to the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff.

In anticipation of the first four-round postseason in college football history, we’re counting down our predicted playoff field as the season approaches. The top five conference champions in the CFP selection committee’s rankings will make the playoff and the rest of the field will be filled out by seven at-large teams.

Who will lift the national championship trophy on Jan. 20 in Atlanta?

Previous previews: Nos. 25-13, No. 12 Boise State

No. 11 Utah

Last season in 100 words

The Utes entered the season without both QB Cam Rising and TE Brant Kuithe and neither made an appearance on the field. Kuithe missed the season after suffering a season-ending knee injury in September of 2022 and Rising was out after he suffered a serious knee injury during the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2022 season.

Without Rising — and a top receiving target like Kuithe — the Utah offense struggled. After averaging nearly 39 points per game in 2022, Utah scored just 23 points per game in 2023. The defense was exceptional as it always is — the Utes gave up just 19 points per game — but the offense’s struggles capped the team’s ceiling.

Cam Rising and the Utah Utes check in at No. 11 in our college football preseason rankings. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)

Why Utah can make the playoff

This one is pretty simple: because Rising is healthy. The veteran returns for what will be his seventh and likely last season of college football. He emerged as Utah’s starter in 2021 after transferring from Texas ahead of the 2020 season and was even better in 2022. He threw for over 3,000 yards and 26 TDs with just eight interceptions two seasons ago. He also rushed for 465 yards and six scores on the ground.

Rising has a strong case to be considered the best quarterback in a conference…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-08-14 13:13:56

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