Utah Finishes High In Final AP Top 25, Makes Some History
Jan 10, 2023, 9:23 AM
Cameron Rising #7 and Devin Kaufusi #90 of the Utah Utes celebrate with the Schwabacher Trophy after defeating the USC Trojans in the Pac-12 Championship at Allegiant Stadium on December 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- It was not the ending that Ute fans wanted in their second visit to the Rose Bowl, but the AP voters seem to have seen the game and body of work for Utah a little different. Utah football finished ranked No. 10 in the final AP Top 25 Poll for the 2022 season that came out shortly after the National Championship between Georgia and TCU wrapped up and made some notable history in the process.
Earlier in the day the Utes received some welcomed good news that tight ends Thomas Yassmin and Brant Kuithe would return to the program in 2023 along with wide receiver Devaughn Vele and star quarterback Cam Rising.
BAD MOON IS BACK 👀#badmoonrising 😉 pic.twitter.com/RrwsCIiEXi
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) January 9, 2023
While there are still some questions as to how quickly Rising will be able to get out on the field next season for Utah football, there is no denying simply having his presence and leadership around is a huge bolster to a roster that will be in the conversation for a three-peat as Pac-12 Champions.
Utah Making History Once More
Utah football’s No. 10 finish for 2022 is only the fourth time in program history the Utes have ended a season ranked in the AP Top 25’s “Top 10”.
Before last night’s poll, the Utes have had Top 10 finishes in 1994 (No. 10), 2004 (No. 4), and 2008 (No. 2). Utah came close in 2021 finishing the year at No. 12 after coming up short against Ohio State in their first Rose Bowl appearance.
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This brings up the second piece of history made for Utah football- the first time finishing back-to-back seasons ranked in the upper half of the AP Top 25. It is also only the 10th time in program history the Utes have finished a season with 10 wins or more.
Things Are Looking Up For The Pac-12
The Pac-12 had six total schools finish the year ranked in the AP Top 25 for 2022 and with the talent coming back and into the conference, it is highly likely it will happen again in 2023.
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Washington (No. 8), USC (No. 12), Oregon (No. 15), Oregon State (No. 17) and UCLA (No. 21) were the other schools in the Pac-12 viewed as some of the best in the country by AP voters for the 2022 season along side Utah.
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports
