This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Of Pac-12 teams, only Oregon has won more games since the beginning of last season than Utah, and the last time Utah faced Oregon, it scored seven unanswered touchdowns while dealing the Ducks their most lopsided loss since 2003.
Utah's 2011 classmate, Colorado, has won fewer conference games in five seasons (five) than Utah won in 2015 alone (six) — the Buffaloes' best win coming against the Utes in 2011. The other four teams Colorado has beaten finished a combined 3-33 those years in conference.
The Utes, meanwhile, have bested every Pac-12 team — from half-pints to big shots — at least once. This year they played 10 bowl-bound teams and defeated three with 9-3 regular-season records.
All of which is to say: We're well past guessing whether Utah, under head coach Kyle Whittingham, can succeed amid the rigors of a Pac-12 schedule.
Now comes another test — not the truest test, or anything like that, just another in an endless series of tests. Life.
However cruel it may be that Utah's breakthrough Pac-12 seasons were rewarded with the same bowl Utah appeared in during its final year in the Mountain West, Utah will now be charged with securing an invitation to a later, more prestigious bowl. Given apparent biases of Pac-12 bowl selectors — who seem to prize name-brand schools and high-octane offenses — that's no easy task.
And while Whittingham noted that this year's senior class is not especially large, it does seem to have been especially valuable.
Utah's success came, at times, in spite of an offense that ranks second-to-last in the Pac-12 in total yardage. When opponents loaded the box to stop the run, Utah was often unable to make them pay for man coverage on the outside. But Utah had scored 24 or more points in every game until its late-November loss to UCLA — a feat no other Pac-12 team could claim by that point — and many of those points owed to seniors Travis Wilson, Devontae Booker and Kenneth Scott, as well as LDS missionary-to-be Britain Covey.
Turnover may be constant in college football, but Utah loses 79 percent of its rushing yards, compared to less than 1 percent after 2014. In Wilson and Kendal Thompson, it graduates 100 percent of its passing yards — every last one — and counting Covey subtracts 62 percent of its receiving yards, led now in career yardage by sophomore tight end Harrison Handley, with 286.
That's not to say the Ute offense is left without talent. The line performed well both in pass- and run-blocking situations and figures to lose only senior Siaosi Aiono. Junior running back Joe Williams rushed for 399 yards in three games after Booker underwent meniscus surgery. In senior wideout Tim Patrick (who frequently dressed but did not play and has applied for a medical hardship waiver) and sophomore jack-of-all-trades Troy McCormick (who tore his ACL in spring), Utah expects a return to the fold for two players who were expected to play a large role in 2015.
It's also worth considering that Utah was 6-0 and averaging 36.5 points when junior tight end Siale Fakailoatonga, a quandary for defensive coordinators because of his combination of blocking and pass-catching abilities — was lost for the season due to a knee injury. It averaged just 26 points thereafter. He'll be back, and senior co-starter Evan Moeai is also expected to be granted a medical hardship waiver.
Utah parted ways with receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield after freshmen Tyrone Smith and Raelon Singleton were unable to distinguish themselves and junior college transfer Kyle Fulks, who ran a 10.3 100 meters in high school and still has two years remaining, didn't catch a pass. It will be unsurprising if, in addition to at least three preps and junior college transfer Alec Dana, Utah adds one or two wideouts who go unsigned this winter because of academic struggles.
And at quarterback, after an era in which Wilson started 39 games and won 24, 2016 will bring the most changed cast since Jordan Wynn, Terrance Cain and Corbin Louks battled for the job in 2009.
Sophomore Brandon Cox, junior college transfer Troy Williams and decorated Florida prep Tyler Huntley will share the reps in spring camp, with redshirt freshman Chase Hansen not expected to be fully recovered until summer — and possibly, then, choosing to play safety instead.
Utah's defense is relatively stable. Six of eight players — except seniors Jason Fanaika and Viliseni Fauonuku — are back from what is regarded as one of the nation's deepest defensive lines, and every starter in the secondary returns except for Las Vegas Bowl MVP Tevin Carter, who lost his job to Hansen only to regain it when Hansen broke his ankle on the final play against Washington.
Senior linebackers Gionni Paul and Jared Norris may be irreplaceable, however. Few defensive players nationwide had a greater influence than Paul, who totaled eight takeaways on four interceptions and four fumble recoveries, leading Utah in tackles (117) and tackles for loss (13.5). Thanks to the reliability of Paul, Norris and senior Jason Whittingham, backups Sunia Tauteoli and Cody Barton, as well as injured junior Uaea Masina, are untested. Imposing Snow College transfer Kurtis Taufa will also compete for a starting job.
And whereas it might be inappropriate at other schools to dwell on special teams comings and goings, Utah's bunch has been unusually important.
As Australian countryman Mitch Wishnowsky waits in the wings, two-time Ray Guy Award winner Tom Hackett prepares to vie for a contract with an NFL team, as may junior kicker Andy Phillips, and Covey earned Sporting News freshman All-American honors for his efforts as a punt returner.
Coaches have their work cut out for them.
It's not clear that what Utah gains through additions and natural progression will offset the Covey, Hackett, Booker, Paul et al — but then, it never is at this juncture.
Utah, at least, has a solid starting point. And it has nine months.
Twitter: @matthew_piper —
Utah in the Pac-12
2011 • 8-5 overall, 4-5 conference, beat Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl
2012 • 5-7, 3-6
2013 • 5-7, 2-7
2014 • 9-4, 5-4, beat Colorado State in the Las Vegas Bowl
2015 • 10-3, 6-3, beat BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl