Andy Staples Sees Utah as a Favorite in the 2024 Big 12 Championship Race

Andy Staples of On3 made his case for Utah being the team in the Big 12 with the best shot to win the conference title on his podcast Andy Staples On3.

Staples starts by saying that “Utah was one of the best programs in the Pac 12 last year” despite the "strange situation" with Cam Rising. He goes on to say "I think they knew before the season started, that they weren’t gonna have Cam Rising all year" and as a result of the injuries, "they move into the Big 12, which is a much easier league than the version of the Pac-12 they left. The Pac-12, last year, was so deep that this will be an easier road for Utah."

As a result of the easier road ahead, Staples views every matchup as "winnable" and that "there is no game that you look at on this schedule for Utah, where you think that’s a loss." When taking a closer look at the opponents the Utes will face in their first Big 12 season, Staples magnified the much more manageable travel schedule Utah has especially with Iowa State, BYU, and Arizona all coming to Rice-Eccles for the 2024 season. Meanwhile, Staples identified UCF and Oklahoma State as the road games that could determine how the season unfolds for the Utes and Coach Whittingham.

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Staples also alluded to the depth the program will have going into the upcoming season saying "Now, Cam Rising is back. Brant Kuithe is back. They got another tight end, Carsen Ryan, who’s from Utah but played originally at UCLA, he comes in. They have Landen King who came from Auburn before last season. So that position group is very deep on the line of scrimmage they’re always good."

He continued by saying “They lost Jonah Ellis who was their best edge rusher to the draft. But almost everybody else who contributed on the defensive line is back, all three starting linebackers are back and of course Kyle Whittingham is their coach and Kyle Whittingham is one of the best coaches in America."

Finally, Staples said, "Utah seems like a team that I would consider one of the favorites along with maybe Kansas State to win the new Big 12 in 2024.” As the 2024 season inches closer, the hype surrounding the Utes is growing, and with glowing endorsements from Joel Klatt and now Andy Staples, the Utah faithful will be hoping that the 2023 season will be a little bump on the road to another championship.