College Football

FOX Sports Top 25: No. 25 Utah

Published Aug. 4, 2020 7:31 p.m. ET

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Welcome to the FOX Sports preseason Top 25, where we’re breaking down college football's standout squads for 2020. We polled our roster of FOX College Football talent to get the most comprehensive results and provide a consensus list as of Aug. 3. Join us as we count down from 25 to 1, revealing a new team each day. Now, starting off the list …

No. 25 Utah

Utah ended 2019 with a pair of losses – one, 37-15 vs. Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship, the other to Texas in the Alamo Bowl, 10-38 – to end the season 11-3. Coach Kyle Whittingham enters 2020 looking to restock following a number of key departures on both sides of the ball, but the cupboard isn’t bare.

Matt Leinart's thoughts: "[Whittingham]'s never had a five-star recruit, yet he's won 10-plus games in back-to-back seasons. He's been to a Pac-12 Championship in back-to-back seasons. He's 11-3 in bowl games ... which means he's had tremendous success against other conferences ... I think we all agree Kyle Whittingham is one of the best coaches in America."

Key players incoming/returning: Graduate transfer Jake Bentley appears set to battle it out at QB with redshirt sophomore Cameron Rising. Junior TE Brant Kuithe, the team’s leader in receptions, will look to continue his ascendancy.

Junior LB Devin Lloyd will be counted on to carry the defense behind a pair of 315-plus pound defensive tackles in Pita Tonga and Viane Moala.

Key players lost: Where to begin? A total of seven Utes were selected in the NFL Draft, six of whom played on defense. Production across the defensive line (DE Bradlee Anae, DT Leki Fotu and John Penisini) and secondary (CB Jaylon Johnson, Javelin Guidry and Josh Nurse, S Julian Blackmon and Terrell Burgess) will need to be replaced.

Four starters on offense depart, including QB Tyler Huntley, leading rusher RB Zack Moss, top WR target Demari Simpkins and LT Darrin Paulo.

Biggest win of 2019: Cal 0, (No. 12) Utah 35

The Utes traveled to Cal on October 26 to hand the Golden Bears their first shutout loss since 1999. Moss set the pace with two rushing TDs and the win catapulted Utah back into the AP Top 10 to No. 9.

FOXBet odds (as of 8/4)

To win Pac-12: +550

To win National Championship: +10000

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