Utah Utes football: 2009 season recap

Utah football 2009

Record: 10-3 overall, 6-2 in the Mountain West Conference

Preseason poll prediction/actual finish: 3rd/3rd

Expectations: Despite significant personnel losses following the 13-0 Sugar Bowl championship season, the Utes managed to win 10 games for just the fifth time in school history. They were an overtime loss away from exceeding preseason media poll expectations and finishing second in Mountain West Conference play. The 26-23 OT setback at BYU, though, led to Utah finishing right where predicted — third overall.

Offensive MVP: Senior left tackle Zane Beadles became just the 14th University of Utah player to earn first-team All-American honors. Junior running back Eddie Wide and wide receiver David Reed also had special seasons. Wide had the eighth-best rushing season in team history with 1,069 yards, while Reed set school records for catches (81) and receiving yards (1,188) in a season.

Defensive MVP: Senior linebacker Stevenson Sylvester wound up leading the Utes with 81 tackles. The first-team all-conference performer capped his stellar career with a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Poinsettia Bowl win over California. Senior safety Robert Johnson and senior defensive end Koa Misi also merit consideration. They were also MWC first-team selections.

Best win: The 37-27 win over Cal in the Poinsettia Bowl extended the nation's longest active bowl streak to nine games. Quarterback Jordan Wynn and Sylvester were named Most Valuable Players after the Utes rallied from an early 14-0 deficit to defeat the Golden Bears.

Worst loss: A 55-28 loss at TCU on Nov. 14 dethroned the defending MWC champions. The Horned Frogs racked up a whopping 549 yards of total offense and 32 first downs in the lopsided affair. The Utes countered with just 284 and 11.

2010 outlook: The Utes will have some holes to fill, especially on defense, where they'll have to replace all three starting linebackers and both safeties. Other replacements will have to be found at defensive end and cornerback.

On offense, the biggest void may be at receiver, where Jereme Brooks is the only regular starter returning.

The MWC schedule is favorable, with projected contenders TCU and BYU slated to visit Rice-Eccles Stadium.