Offense: here is a list of what is coming back, which is pretty substantial, including 3 All-MWC members. 4 of 5 on the O-Line, replacing NFL draftee Zane Beadles at LT with #1 JC prospect John Cullen. 2 RBs with major talent and experience in 6th-year Matt Asiata and senior Eddie Wide. Return the QB from last year that started the last 5 games in Jordan Wynn, also have backup Terrence Cain who started the first 8 games. Jereme Brooks is back at WR. The strengths are obviously the O-Line and the running game. Cullen is a little undersized for a LT and we'll see how he'll adjust to playing D-I defensive lines, but being next to LG Caleb Schlauderoff will help ease that transition. Asiata is a powerback. Wide is more of a shifty runner. I would anticipate that one-two punch should get the job done.
The main concern is the passing game. I am convinced that Jordan Wynn is the way to go for Utah and he played well for a freshman last season, but playing well for a freshman won't win you a conference title or get you to a BCS game. He had the great bowl game against Cal, worked over 1-11 New Mexico, and led a 4th-quarter comeback against Wyoming. However, in the other games, he was a 50% passer. If he can get that up higher, say around 60%, I'd feel better about things. That will be tougher given that his favorite receiver, David Reed, is gone. Shaky Smithson and Jereme Brooks are the only veterans in the receiver corps. They have talented guys there, but playing a lot of freshmen and sophomores usually isn't ideal. If they can bring the passing game together, the offense should be unstoppable. Since the departure of Urban Meyer, Utah has won a lot of games in spite of their offense, but this year (with a passing game), they might go back to winning because of their O.
Defense: they have a lot to replace, including all of the biggest playmakers on the defense, Stevenson Sylvester, Robert Johnson, Koa Misi, etc. They have a much deeper, though a little undersized by typical Utah standards, defensive line. They have new starters at LB, but most of them are upper classmen, so I wouldn't worry as much about them, they'll adjust quickly. The secondary is in a similar situation: new starters, but mostly juniors and seniors. They have a little less quality depth in the secondary, but if they don't get hurt, this should be a pretty solid unit. Despite the improvement across the offenses in rest of the MWC, I would anticipate little, if any, dropoff in this unit that was 19th in total defense and 23rd in scoring defense last season. The two main areas of concern will be getting to the QB and creating turnovers. Koa Misi and Kepa Gaison are gone, as are their 9 sacks. How will Christian Cox do when the O-Lines don't have to worry about those other beasts? As far as turnovers go: without Misi, Wright, RoJo, who will force fumbles or pick off passes?
Schedule: they have a difficult non-conference schedule. Pitt on Thursday night, San Jose State, at Iowa State, and at Notre Dame (after playing at Air Force and against TCU). The could easily win all 4 of these. They could also just as easily lose 3 of them (San Jose State is the only definite win). I would anticipate a 3-1 record, perhaps as low as 2-2 if things don't gel for the inexperienced defense and/or receiving corps.
Conference home games are UNLV, CSU, TCU, and BYU. They will certainly beat UNLV and CSU. I would give the edge to TCU, right now. The BYU game is usually a toss-up (unless Utah is 11-0 at the time, and then it's a blowout). We'll call it 3-1 today.
Conference road games are New Mexico, Wyoming, Air Force, and San Diego State. At worst, they should be 3-1, but that San Diego State game is a bit of a trap game, sandwiched between 3 big games ahead of it and the rivalry game with BYU after it. I think Air Force could beat Utah this year and the timing of the SDSU game gives me pause in declaring this a 4-0 MWC road swing. We'll call it 3-1 for now.
Outlook: if things are rolling by the end of October, this could be an 11-1 or 12-0 team. If they don't get on a roll by then, though, they could easily drop to 7-5. My gut says the D will come together quickly but the passing game won't. I think that puts them behind the 8-ball for the TCU and Notre Dame (and maybe for Iowa State or Air Force) games. In my mind, I think it's probably a 9-3 season with a winnable bowl game, with the Utah-Air Force game deciding 2nd place in the MWC. Too many questions for Utah and BYU to feel really comfortable predicting either of them...but you guys read for my thoughts, not for my wafflings. Utah, 9-3, losing to TCU and Air Force in conference and finishing third. If they lose to BYU, they go 8-4 and finish 4th. For now, 9-3 (sorry Cougar fans, but if they had to play today, Utah would definitely win: lucky for BYU, they don't and they have a season to get it going).
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