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Burbank, Calif. • The Utes would tell you they've come a long way from the start of the program's Pac-12 era four years ago.
Preseason polls indicate they still have a long way to go.
Despite a top-25 finish, a 9-4 record and returning a high-profile running back and a strong defensive front, the Utes are No. 5 in their own division, according to a Pac-12 preseason media poll released Thursday. It has as much to do with the cutthroat Pac-12 South — which had five teams finish with nine wins or more last year — as Utah's own perceived question marks.
While many coaches and players in the first installment of Pac-12 media days praised Utah's physicality and competitiveness, the Utes themselves still aren't yet feeling the love.
"Honestly, I don't think [teams respect us more]," running back Devontae Booker said. "Definitely we're going to work hard this year and prove people wrong again."
The reloaded USC Trojans, which brought in the nation's top recruiting class, were voted to finish first in the South ahead of rivals Arizona State and UCLA, respectively. But throughout the conference, there's a sense that anyone could emerge from a wide-open field.
Even in the Pac-12 North, where national runner-up Oregon was again voted to win the division, Stanford appears close behind and a rebuilding Cal team has ramped up over the past two years. Significant turnover, especially at the quarterback position, has created uncertainty. Last year, Marcus Mariota and a stacked Ducks team looked imposing even before their 13-2 run.
The absence of one clearly above-the-fray team ahead of the season makes the field look even more competitive.
"It's going to be insane because everyone is so good [and] talented," Stanford coach David Shaw said. "You're going to lose a game to a really good team, and somebody's going to say you shouldn't have lost to them. Three weeks later, that team's going to be in the top 15, top 10. That's the way this conference is going to be."
There was plenty of excitement in the South last year, where every team except Colorado had a shot at the division title until the second-to-last week of the season. Arizona ended up prevailing, thanks to a late-season win streak. But even the Wildcats can't get respect: They were voted fourth despite returning their quarterback and a number of offensive weapons.
Them's the breaks in the ultra competitive field. On the other hand, for those who have gotten passed over in polls, hope springs eternal.
"We look forward to proving people wrong," Washington linebacker Travis Feeney said, responding to his team being picked fourth in the North. "We know what we can do."
Utah is in this latter camp, though perhaps with slightly more credibility. A winning Pac-12 record in 2014 speaks volumes to opposing coaches and players who hold the Utes in high regard.
In breakout sessions with the print media, Stanford, UCLA and Colorado players spoke wistfully of missed opportunities against the Utes last season.
"That game really hurt last year," Stanford linebacker Blake Martinez said. "I think it woke us up."
"Their quarterback," UCLA linebacker Deon Hollins recalled at another point Thursday morning, "he really hurt us running the ball last year."
Of course, Utah has its own misses it would love to have back from 2014. But those memories, added with another year of being picked second-to-last in a preseason poll, are fueling them moving forward.
"We're implementing some things this year that didn't work last year," linebacker Jared Norris said. "We want to make this season special."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Pac-12 media poll
North Division
1. Oregon (37) 262
2. Stanford (8) 231
3. California 174
4. Washington 129
5. Washington State 8
6. Oregon State 60
South Division
1. USC (32) 254
2. Arizona State (7) 200
3. UCLA (6) 180
4. Arizona 155
5. Utah 105
6. Colorado 46
* First-place votes in parentheses