Typically, the college football preseason AP Top 25 poll has had little impact on the results of a season for any given team. Oftentimes, the final Top 25 rankings will look very different than the preseason ones. So why do the preseason polls even matter anymore? In all honesty, they probably don’t.
Once the first College Football Playoff poll drops at the beginning of November, everyone disregards the AP rankings entirely. The CFP poll is the only one that actually counts – as did the BCS’s in its day – leading to the downfall of the importance of the AP rankings. This is true among both fans and media members. The CFP rankings also have a direct impact on the way the bowl season shapes up. Why then would the preseason AP poll have a direct impact on the schools inside of the state of Utah?
Here are a few reasons why it might.
Utah State Aggies
After an impressive 2021 campaign that saw Utah State finish as the 24th-ranked team in the country, they did not accumulate much praise from the media heading into the 2022 season, receiving only two votes in the preseason AP poll. While they did lose some talented players from last season – namely All-American receiver Deven Thompkins on offense and star linebacker Justin Rice on defense – the Aggies again used the transfer portal to reload the roster. The explosive offense led by record-breaking quarterback Logan Bonner that won a Mountain West championship last season will attempt to lead Utah State back into the polls again this year.
The early part of the season will be a true test for the Aggies. They head to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to face the No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide in week two, followed by a trip to Provo for their fifth game to take on rival and 25th ranked BYU. If Utah State is able to battle with the top team in the nation on the road and maybe even keep the score respectable, it could help them along the lines of being ranked down the road.
A real chance for them to get into the rankings, however, will be the week five matchup in Provo. If the Aggies are able to pull off an upset win on the road against a rival and ranked opponent, the result could bring them into the national spotlight. The opportunity for Utah State to prove themselves against two preseason-ranked opponents is there for the taking, we will just have to wait and see if they can take advantage.
BYU Cougars
When the rankings were released, Cougar fans were pleased to see that the team had made it into the preseason Top 25 for the first time in 13 years. After the way the team has performed the last two seasons, they felt that it was well deserved. BYU ended last season ranked 18th in the AP poll, falling a few spots after a tough loss to the UAB Blazers in the Independence Bowl.
The bowl loss to the Blazers aside, the Cougars had a strong 2021 showing. The team finished with 10 wins on the season, including all five matchups against Pac-12 competition. The victories over Power 5 conference opponents allowed the Cougars to be in the national spotlight and ranked throughout much of the season. BYU is hoping for another strong showing from quarterback Jaren Hall to propel them to another Top 25 finish, although this season’s schedule won’t make it easy on the 25th-ranked team in the country.
Within the first seven weeks of the season, the Cougars will face four teams that are in the preseason Top 20. This will allow them the chance to prove why their own preseason rank is no fluke, and if they can matchup versus the top teams in the nation. BYU has high hopes for this season, as they are striving to reach one of the New Years Six bowl games before the likely departure of Hall and a move to the Big 12 Conference.
Utah Utes
If we are talking about an opportunity to explode onto the national scene, look no further than Salt Lake City. Kyle Whittingham’s Utah team is looking to be a serious threat to break into the illustrious College Football Playoff. The playoff is the ultimate goal for every team – particularly Power 5 programs – year in and year out, and the Utes have a real shot at making it there this season. The Utes are ranked seventh in the preseason, putting them in an already strong position and within striking distance of the top four.
This season will be all about taking care of business for Utah. Their strength of schedule is ranked 107th out of 130 FBS teams, meaning they should be able to win most, if not all of their games. Going undefeated is a daunting task in football, but for the Utes to be able to crack the CFP and have a chance at a national championship, they may need to do just that.
They have two games on the schedule that could provide a stiff test; against No. 14 USC in Salt Lake City and at the 11th-ranked Oregon Ducks. The Ducks will also be looking for revenge after losing the Pac-12 Championship game to the Utes last season, so circle that matchup on the calendar. If Utah is able to end the season unscathed – or possibly with one loss – and a Pac-12 championship they should be granted the opportunity to compete in the College Football Playoff. The Utes have been granted a favorable starting position in the preseason polls and they need to take advantage of it. With the possible uncertainty surrounding the future of the Pac-12, now is the time for the team from Salt Lake City to prove they belong at the top.
Final Thoughts
The preseason rankings have granted each of the three FBS teams from the state of Utah an opportunity. The Aggies get the chance to make their way onto the scene by surprising some already ranked opponents on their schedule while proving they can compete for another conference title. For the Cougars, it’s about moving up in the polls and proving that they belong amongst the top college football crowd before becoming a Power 5 program. Finally, for the Utes it’s about taking advantage of their opportunity to make it to the top of college football, repeat as Pac-12 champions, and have a legitimate shot at the College Football Playoff.
Each team has been presented with a chance to prove themselves this upcoming season and although it may look different for each, the desire to prove they belong is one and the same.
