This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The day the Pac-12 announced it was adding Utah and Colorado, then-UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel believed it was a good move for the conference.
Not everyone felt the same way.
"I think people were very leery about what kind of football team Utah was when they first joined the conference," said Neuheisel, now an analyst for CBS Sports and CBS Sports Networks. "To me, to see them develop has been really, really fun to watch the last few years."
After four seasons in the Pac-12, the Utes have scratched out respect throughout the conference. They have one of the league's most respected defenses, and have among the most feared home-field advantages.
But can they parlay respect into more wins to move into the top half of the Pac-12 South?
It's hard to say in possibly the most competitive division in college football. If the Utes are to rise in the standings, they need a lot of things to go right, and other teams have to fall.
At the moment, it isn't clear how that might happen. And their margin for error is narrow.
"It's tough to see how they move up," Pac-12 Networks analyst Yogi Roth said. "Coaches in this conference aren't leaving; just about everyone has great facilities and recruits hard. I think Utah's going to be in a lot of one-score games like they were last year, and that's going to determine if they can compete for the Pac-12 title."
If one thing has changed since the Utes were last at Pac-12 media days, it's stability. The coaching staff reaped the fruits of a 9-4 season with contract extensions. Though Kyle Whittingham went through some offseason drama with athletic director Chris Hill, he's on firmer ground this fall than last, when some considered him to be in the hot seat.
There's also experience: on the offensive and defensive lines, at linebacker and running back. Though quarterback Travis Wilson went through multiple benchings last season, he's back for his fourth year and considered the front-runner to start. He helms an offense driven by Devontae Booker, whom Rick Neuheisel called "the best back I've seen this side of [Ohio State's] Ezekiel Elliott and [Georgia's] Nick Chubb."
At the same time, the media will be forgiven if they're asking the same questions from years past. How will the team adjust to new offensive coordinators? How can Utah take strides in the passing game? Is Wilson definitely the starter? Can the Utes beat foes that have dogged them in the past, especially Arizona and Oregon?
Expect Utah to have in the same place in the preseason poll, too. Last year, they were voted to finish fifth in the South, which is where they ended up — albeit with that 9-4 (5-4 conference) record.
While Utah may be rolling with momentum and boasting experience, other programs in the division also have significant advantages. UCLA and Arizona State have a boatload of returning starters. USC brings back its quarterback and a number of playmakers while adding the top recruiting class in the country. Defending Pac-12 South champ Arizona, which demolished Utah at home last year, returns the core of its high-flying offense that helped it emerge. The only team Utah will clearly be expected to beat is Colorado, which needs to show improvement in Mike MacIntyre's third season.
The difference between first and fifth is tight, but frustratingly difficult in a race that most expect won't be decided until the final week of the season.
"I see at least five teams with legitimate claims to the title," Neuheisel said. "Each one has an Achilles' heel that could rear its ugly head. It should make for some great games."
At large, the Pac-12 has its traditional powers, but it could be as wide-open as ever. After a run that ended in a national-title game, Oregon is replacing much of its top talent, including Heisman winner Marcus Mariota. Stanford has quarterback Kevin Hogan, but it needs new talent to emerge on defense. A dark-horse contender last year, UCLA hopes it can name its quarterback soon and capitalize on a great deal of returning talent.
Throughout the league, quarterback play is a question mark — one area in which Utah potentially has an upper hand. A year ago, the Pac-12 was considered one of the premier conferences for quarterbacks, but with departures of Mariota, Brett Hundley, Sean Mannion, Connor Halliday and Taylor Kelly, many programs will be looking to new starters. At the top of the conference, the team that has the quickest developing quarterback may gain the edge in the standings early.
"One thing we know about this conference is you can't win without good quarterback play," Roth said. "Oregon and UCLA don't have a quarterback yet, and that could hurt them, especially going against defenses that can get out after the passer."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Pac-12 Football Media Days
With football a month away, the Utes and the rest of the Pac-12 meet the media in Burbank, Calif., at Warner Bros. Studios. The Tribune will be covering the event, which also will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks and streaming free on pac-12.com.
(all times MT)
Thursday
10 a.m. • Commissioner Larry Scott
10:50 a.m. • Colorado
11:28 a.m. • Arizona State
12:08 p.m. • Oregon State
12:45 p.m. • UCLA
1:25 p.m. • Washington
2:01 p.m. • Stanford
Friday
10 a.m. • Pac-12 Networks President Lydia Murphy-Stephans
10:50 a.m. • Utah
11:28 a.m. • Arizona
12:08 p.m. • Cal
12:45 p.m. • USC
1:25 p.m. • Oregon
2:01 p.m. • Washington State