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The Utah football team was picked second in the Pac-12 Conference South Division preseason media poll released Wednesday.

USC earned the top spot in the South Division, while UCLA ranked third followed by Colorado, Arizona State, and Arizona. Voters selected Washington as the North Division favorite, while USC has been picked to win the conference championship with 28 votes. Washington received 22 votes as as overall conference champion while Oregon and Utah received one apiece.

The Utes were selected third in the South prior to the 2016 season, and this year's selection matches their highest previous preseason pick which came in 2012 (second).

"It doesn't mean a whole lot in the final analysis, but I think it speaks to what our players have been able to accomplish the last few years and the direction we're heading," Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said. "I think it's a show of respect to our players and our program. I think it's a positive thing."

The Utes, who finished the 2016 season ranked No. 21 in the coaches poll and No. 23 in the Associated Press rankings, went 9-4 overall and 5-4 in Pac-12 play.

They return 12 starters (five offense, six defense, one punter) from a squad that defeated Indiana in the Fosters Farms Bowl and had a program-best eight players selected in the NFL Draft.

The Utes has posted a 25-29 record in Pac-12 play in six seasons, however, they've posted winning records each of the past three seasons.

With Colorado having captured the South Division championship last season, the Utes go into this season as the lone team in the division without a title since 2011.

This season, the Utes will play Pac-12 foes Stanford, Arizona State, UCLA, Washington State and Colorado in Salt Lake City. Meanwhile they'll tangle with Arizona, USC, Oregon and Washington on the road.

The Utes open preseason camp on Friday. The season begins at home against North Dakota on Aug. 31.

Twitter: @LWorthySports —

Pac-12 media poll

South Division

1. USC (49 first-place votes) 309

2. Utah (1) 220

3. UCLA (1) 209

4. Colorado (1) 182

5. Arizona State 109

6. Arizona 61

North Division

1. Washington (49) 309

2. Stanford (1) 247

3. Washington State (1) 206

4. Oregon (1) 163

5. Oregon State 101

6. California 64