2026 Utah Football Preview
Jake Wimberly
Abby Boyd Contributing-
What’s to like:
Kyle Whittingham has built one of the most consistent programs in college football, and that stability remains one of Utah's biggest advantages. The Utes have consistently developed players and maintained a physical identity regardless of changes to the roster. That experience should help Utah continue adjusting to life in the Big 12.
Utah's defense should once again be a strength, particularly along the defensive line. The Utes have built a reputation for playing physical football up front and making opponents work for yards. Strong line play gives Utah a foundation it can rely on even when the offense struggles.
What’s not to like:
Utah lost important talent in the secondary, which creates questions about how quickly the new starters can adjust. Replacing experienced defensive backs is especially difficult against teams that throw the ball frequently, and communication will be important for the younger players.
The Utes also need more offensive explosiveness. Utah has traditionally relied on controlling the line of scrimmage and playing physical football, but creating more big plays would make the offense more difficult to defend. If the passing game can provide that element, Utah should have a higher offensive ceiling.
What does the Hourglass say?
Utah- Big 12 (12-0)
Power ranking 63.36.
2026 Utah Analytics
National recruiting rating (three year metric): #27- outside the boundary of a National Championship Roster.
National Coaching Ranking:
Morgan Scalley- 18th in Power 5 and 2nd in the Big 12.
2026 coaching value= 29.2 (average 2026 Power 5 coaching value=21.93) Morgan Scalley is ranked higher of the pack for coaches in the Power 5.
Quarterback Play: Devon Dampier- ranked 30th in the Power 4, 7th in the Big 12; 2026 QB value=33.9 (Power 4 average- 26.43).
Impact Ball Catcher Metric: Utah has an Impact Ball Catcher Metric of . This puts the Utes at the lower tier for the Big 12 in this metric.
Final Thoughts:
Utah continues to have one of the most established programs in the conference, with Kyle Whittingham providing stability and the defensive line serving as a major strength. Losing experience in the secondary creates a concern, while the offense needs to generate more explosive plays. If the younger defensive backs develop quickly and the offense becomes more dynamic, Utah should remain one of the Big 12's tougher teams.
2026 Schedule analysis:
Projected Hourglass W/L record: Games in red denote games that could be a one possession game or even a different outcome than projection.
9/3/26 Idaho- Win
9/12/26 Arkansas- Win
9/19/26 Utah State- Win
9/26/26 At Iowa State- Win
10/10/26 Kansas- Win
10/17/26 At Colorado- Win
10/24/26 Houston- Win
10/31/26 At Cincinnati- Win
11/7/26 BYU- Win
11/14/26 At Arizona- Win
11/21/26 At TCU- Win
11/27/26 West Virginia- Win
