UTAH UTES

Utah Picked To Finish First In Pac-12 Preseason Media Poll

Jul 28, 2022, 4:22 PM | Updated: 4:24 pm
Utah Utes - Pac-12 Championship Game...
The University of Utah Utes celebrate after winning the PAC-12 Football Championship Game against the Oregon Ducks on December 3, 2021 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES- Utah was picked Thursday morning by the media to finish first in the Pac-12 in 2022. The reigning Pac-12 Champs had stiff competition from a revamped USC squad led by Lincoln Riley, but ultimately prevailed for the preseason nod. Oregon was picked second, USC third and UCLA fourth.

The Utes received 26 of the 33 possible first-place votes. Oregon received two first-place votes and USC had five.

Utah Picked First

The Utes had an incredible run in 2021 winning their first-ever Pac-12 Championship and stamping their ticket to the Rose Bowl in the process. Like most great Utah teams, the 2021 squad overcame unthinkable odds having to navigate two teammates’ deaths in less than a year to take the crown and put on a show at the “Granddaddy of them All”.

2022 is shaping up to be another promising season for the Utes. Despite loosing key players such as linebacker Devin Lloyd, wide receiver Britain Covey, and offensive Nick Ford to the NFL, Utah also returns a lot of key talent.

Both of the Utes’ prolific tight ends in Brant Kuithe and Dalton Kincaid returned despite draftable grades last season. Cornerback Clark Phillips III really turned some heads in Utah’s Rose Bowl game against Ohio State and is expected to do more of the same. However, perhaps the biggest key of all comes in quarterback Cam Rising who has been having quite the offseason and has been reported as looking better than ever.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KSL Sports (@kslsports)

The Utes will put the Pac-12 media’s confidence to the test right out of the gate heading to the Swamp to take on the Florida Gators on September 3rd. Utah also has big games with some of the Pac-12 brethren that could determine just how far the 2022 squad can go. October 15th is shaping up to be a big contest in Salt Lake City with USC, and their November 19th meetup in Eugene with the Oregon Ducks could prove to be intense.

If the Utes can handle their schedule as many believe they can, being back-to-back Pac-12 Champions may not be all that awaits them with national pundits thinking they could earn their way into the College Football Playoffs.

  • Utah Utes Scoreboard

  • Utah Utes Team Leaders

  • Utah Utes Standings

Utah Utes

Moment-Of-Loudness-Rice-Eccles-Stadium...
Michelle Bodkin

A Few Thoughts On Utah Football’s First Week Of Spring Ball

Utah football has wrapped up their first week of spring ball and by all accounts it sounds like the team has gotten off to a great start.
19 hours ago
Kyle-Whittingham-Utah-Utes-USC-Trojans-Pac-12-Championship-Game...
Jeremy Mauss

Utah Football Eyes Winning Third-Straight Pac-12 Championship

During the first day of spring football, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham preached about winning a third straight Pac-12 title.
19 hours ago
Utah-Women's-Basketball-Coach-Lynne-Roberts...
Michelle Bodkin

Lynne Roberts: I’m Incredibly Proud Of My Team

Despite a tough loss to LSU in the Sweet 16, Utah head coach Lynne Roberts could only speak about how proud she is of the Utes.
3 days ago
Alissa-Pili-Battles-In-Sweet-16-Match-Against-LSU...
Michelle Bodkin

Utah’s Elite Eight Hopes Dashed By LSU

Only one escaped Bon Secours Wellness Arena alive, and unfortunately it wasn't Utah whose Elite Eight hopes were dashed.
3 days ago
Dalton-Kincaid-Utah-Utes-Football-2022...
Michelle Bodkin

Former Utes Talk NFL Draft Process

Pro Day is a wrap for the Utes and now it's time to wait and see where the rest of the NFL process takes the hopefuls till Draft Day.
3 days ago
Utah-Center-Branden-Carlson-Models-Red-Throwback-Uniform-NBA-Draft...
Chandler Holt

Utah Ute Senior Brandon Carlson Declares For Upcoming NBA Draft

Utah Utes Senior Branden Carlson took to Twitter to announce that he will be declaring for the upcoming 2023 NBA draft.
4 days ago

Sponsored Articles

High angle view of the beautiful Rose Bowl Stadium...
KSL Digital Sales

How to Prepare for the 2023 Rose Bowl

Everything you need to know to plan your 2023 Rose Bowl trip in Pasadena, California. This year, the Utes will face Penn State.
Jordan-Clarkson-Utah-Jazz...
KSL Digital Sales

Notable Moments From The Utah Jazz Season… So Far

At the beginning of the season, the Utah Jazz were second to last. Now they rank in the top 10 teams in the Western Conference.
Football soccer ball on grass field on stadium...
KSL Digital Sales

Everything You Need to Know to Watch the 2022 World Cup

Find out where and when to watch the upcoming games and final match for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including where to find live updates.
ksl sports logos...
KSL Sports

KSL Sports Newsletter: Sign Up Now

Sign up today for the KSL Sports newsletter. Get the latest Utah sports news delivered to your inbox.
jimmy-buffett-tour-art...
KSL Sports

Win Tickets Wednesday: Jimmy Buffett

Get your Hawaiian shirts ready.
Iron Maiden tour...
KSL Sports

Win Tickets Wednesday: Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden returns to Utah in 2022 with The Legacy of the Beast tour.
Utah Picked To Finish First In Pac-12 Preseason Media Poll