Utah Among The Three Big 12 Contenders With The 'Easiest' Schedules In CFB
Many factors coincide with a team's success on the football field.
Whether it be health, recruiting, development, transfers, or emerging stars that take the sport by storm. However, sometimes there is a factor that really isn't in anyone's control which is a team's strength of schedule. In college football the schedules, barring conference realignment that changes pretty much everything, are made years in advance.
Even with conference realignment, most teams knew who they were playing for their non-conference games. When those games are scheduled years in advance, two motives outweigh any others; pay a program to come get beat up or play a program that is hopefully good at that time to strengthen your resume. In some cases those things work out, while in others we see major upsets are blowouts.
When it comes to Utah's 2024 schedule which has since changed dramatically following their move to the Big 12, while some Utes fans may not be a fan of the conference change they do have to at least love the fact that Utah's schedule won't be as challenging. This isn't to say that Utah wouldn't beat up on USC some more, or take down Oregon and Washington, but moving to a playoff where resume doesn't mean as much, it could mean everything. With the 12-team playoff, winning a conference title gets you into the dance which, and Utah will have a prime chance to win the Big 12 in 2024 based on returning players, additions, and their strength of schedule or lack thereof.
247Sports' Brad Crawford identified the 10 easiest schedules in 2024, and views Utah as having the fifth-easiest schedule. He broke down why Utah should have minimal issues, citing coaching changes around the conference and experienced playmakers who are returning.
"Considering this team's strengths across the board under Kyle Whittingham with returning, multi-year starter Cameron Rising at quarterback, there is a reason why many like the Utes to win the Big 12. And the schedule has something to do with that. Arizona and Oklahoma State are the only nationally-ranked opponents at this time, which could certainly change if the Wildcats aren't as potent as expected after losing coach Jedd Fisch to Washington," wrote Crawford.
Utah wasn't the only Big 12 program in the rankings either, as Cincinnati (1), Kansas (2), and Arizona (7) were all included.
The Utes' schedule features eight teams that finished below .500 this past season, and certainly gives Utah to run the table in year one in the Big 12. Of the teams that are viewed as contenders in the conference, which are Arizona, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State, Utah only plays two of them. One of which will be at home.
If there were ever a season where the stars were aligning for the Utes, it'd have to be 2024.
