Utah Takes A Hit In ESPN's SP+ Rankings Due To Doubts Surrounding Cam Rising

This entire offseason, people have been viewing the Utah Utes as the best team in the Big 12 and a near-lock for the College Football Playoff.

Just a few days ago, ESPN released their "way too early" rankings, and the Utes came in as the No. 10 team in the country. Wasn't too shocking. What's not to like about this team? They return one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the country in Cam Rising, bolstered their receiver corps, and will have as stout a defense as any.

However, ESPN's SP+ rankings put out by Bill Connelly which factor in returning production, recruiting, and recent history placed Utah seven spots down at No. 17.

While Utah fans are pumped that Rising will return after missing the entire season with a blown-out knee, Connelly expressed his doubts that they will be getting the same Rising we saw back in 2022.

OK, I guess we're not really selling the Utes, since they're the projected leader in the Big 12. But 12th might be a bit too ambitious for a team that loses three skill-corps starters and is trusting that quarterback Cam Rising can still produce a strong A-game after missing all of last season with a lingering knee issue. (The defense could be coach Kyle Whittingham's best in years, though.)

Even if Rising isn't the same exact quarterback who threw for over 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns the last time we saw him, the offense around him has been built to succeed.

The Utes return seventh-year tight end Brant Kuithe who also missed this past season and junior pass-catcher Money Parks who played quite well. It is also worth noting they added UCLA tight end transfer Carsen Ryan who helps form the best tight end duo in the country with Kuithe, while landing former first-team All-Pac-12 receiver from Arizona/USC in Dorian Singer, and former four-star Taeshaun Lyons who transferred in from Washington. They also have an elite stable of running backs headlined by Micah Bernard and Jaylon Glover, who will be complemented by Idaho transfer Anthony Woods.

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Rising is also a much more proven and effective passer than the three quarterbacks Utah played this past season. Only time will tell, but this Utah team has enormous potential, and should be contending for the College Football Playoff in 2024.