Deseret News | Utah Utes, BYU football: Utes, Cougars ranked among top 20 in preseason poll

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Utah Utes, BYU football: Utes, Cougars ranked among top 20 in preseason poll

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SCUM! | 4:39 p.m. June 18, 2008

I've noticed BYU fans voting Utah will lose all 12 games on Phil Steele's web site poll. Wow, your hatred runs deep. Given that most of you are LDS, may I say, "Thou shall love thy neighbor..." NOT!!! You BYU fans are hypocritical scom and it shows through your absolute hatred through the comments you've made and the actions you've taken (ie the childish voting mentioned previously)against anything that deals with the University of Utah or anyone else who's not pro-BYU.

Enough | 4:41 p.m. June 18, 2008

BYU-Provo is WAY overrated. Last year they couldn't beat AZ or Tulsa. So now they are scheduling down to try to go undefeated -- nice approach.

Makes Sense | 4:44 p.m. June 18, 2008

Local retailers were getting way overstocked on Red Sweatshirts.

You would think over the past two years eweyt fans would be a little bit more humble, more gracious, and less obnoxious.

Two Years ago, Harline holding the ball, and the "loudest silence" I have ever heard. A blowout is probably the next step for the highly superior BYU team.

(Anyone know who has the longest unbeaten streak in the country? I'm not sure, but I think it's Utah or BYU.)

Comments continue below

To: BCS Dream @ 3:16 | 4:51 p.m. June 18, 2008

Keep dreaming. The BCS Will never allow a non BCS School to win a NTL championship.

CO Coug | 4:52 p.m. June 18, 2008

As much as I like the strong showing with the MWC in this poll, the guy has Notre Dame and Penn State ranked far too high (LSU not in the top 10?!?!?). I would take this poll with a HEAVY grain of salt.

Relax everybody, it's just a meaningless pre-season poll, nothing will matter once the games actually start, then the real rankings will come out.

Go Cougs.

Mitch Wadley | 4:56 p.m. June 18, 2008

The Utes in the top 20? Yeah right! BYU 17th? That's probably a more accurate ranking.

Re: Enough | 5:04 p.m. June 18, 2008

BYU did beat AZ last year, 20-7.

CO Coug

Re: Enough | 5:06 p.m. June 18, 2008

BYU-Provo did beat AZ last year but Provo lost to UCLA during the regular season.

re:SCUM | 5:09 p.m. June 18, 2008

Hey, I like BYU, think Utes are stupid and I am not LDS, so how do you like them apples?

Thanks for the tip that you can bote for 12 losses...

The way it stands now is:

Drumroll...................

Go unbeaten 36.4%
Will lose 1 game 1.7%
Will lose 2 games 1.8%
Will lose 3 games 1.7%
Will lose 4 games 1.1%
Will lose 5 games 1.1%
Will lose 6 games 0.8%
Will lose 7 games 0.2%
Will lose 8 games 1.7%
Will lose 9 games 3.6%
Will lose 10 games 5%
Will lose 11 games 6.3%
Will lose 12 games 38.6%
Total Votes: 5348

Taaaa Duuuuhhhhhh!!!!!!

(I can't believe the 36.4% ignorant football fans that see an unbeaten Utah season).

You're Kidding! | 5:23 p.m. June 18, 2008

First, I'm a die hard Cougar fan but I will say that I am truly glad that Utah is ranked. Anytime ANY team from Utah is recognized nationally, that's a good thing for our great state.

However, Utah ranked ahead of BYU? Who are they kidding?.....

that's your classic bell curve, | 5:24 p.m. June 18, 2008

I'd say

Phil Steele????????? | 5:30 p.m. June 18, 2008

im pretty sure this guy doesnt even know what he is talking about. Utah isnt even in the top 25 of one of the most accurate preseason polls in the nation
Also Geogia is ranked 9th no way, they are alot better then that. Phil Steele doesnt even know what he is talking about. So Utahns keep dreamin even though it will never happen
AP TOP 25
1. LSU (60) 12-2 1,620
2. Georgia (3) 11-2 1,515
3. USC (1) 11-2 1,500
4. Missouri 12-2 1,347
5. Ohio State 11-2 1,346
6. West Virginia 11-2 1,342
7. Kansas (1) 12-1 1,303
8. Oklahoma 11-3 1,139
9. Virginia Tech 11-3 1,096
10. Texas 10-3 962
10. Boston College 11-3 962
12. Tennessee 10-4 904
13. Florida 9-4 685
14. BRIGHAM YOUNG 11-2 654
15. Auburn 9-4 648
16. Arizona State 10-3 587
17. Cincinnati 10-3 566
18. Michigan 9-4 508
19. Hawaii 12-1 460
20. Illinois 9-4 443
21. Clemson 9-4 353
22. Texas Tech 9-4 308
23. Oregon 9-4 253
24. Wisconsin 9-4 202
25. Oregon State 9-4 110

GO UTES!!!!! | 5:35 p.m. June 18, 2008

byu fans are idiots... the utes return the starting QB RB 2 WR's and the list goes on and on!! not to mention the best kicker and punter in the nation!!! after we go into Michigan and kill them we'll see what all you B Y WHO fans are talkin about now!! LOL

re:Go Utes | 5:57 p.m. June 18, 2008

Returning QB???

Dude, your back-up quarterback is better than your starting quarterback.

Beside that, wasn't he injured part of the season last year with the same degree shoulder separation that Max Hall had when Max Hall led the Cougars past your Utes last year. Where is the heart?

The list that "goes on and on"... Does that list include the same defense that "Frank the Tank" so abused at UNLV in that SHUTOUT game, that the UNLV coaches admitted to the paper they couldn't stop laughing? (Isn't your defense led by Captain Michael Scott and his Assistant to the Regional Captain Dwight Schrute?)

I agree with many Ute posters (and even senile Lou Holtz) that the Utes "might" have the better athletes. Just no heart, coherent fans, and they have poor coaching at best.

Face it, until your "defensive" Head Coach learns how to give a motivational speech that doesn't begin with "Our backs are against the wall, we've lost three straight, time to start playing" Ute fans shouldn't be concerned about "B Y Who fans sounding like idiots."

Quit talking, and do it on the field...

Pre-season Phil Steele means squat come gametime.

Utah? | 5:58 p.m. June 18, 2008

at 14? There is no way. BYU should have been 14.

re:Dutchman | 6:02 p.m. June 18, 2008

I suggest you quit buying those expensive "chair seats" and invest in the Dollar.

Your money will still go away, but without all of the bad memories that make you Ute Fans so sour.

JE | 6:16 p.m. June 18, 2008

Phil Steele put the Utes #14 based on them beating Michigan. If that happens, the Utes could get on a roll and climb in the rankings.

Go Aggies!

Bowen | 6:19 p.m. June 18, 2008

byu fans need a reality check. Just because you had a fair 2 years what makes you think your the greatest football act since Utah beat Pitt in the first BCS breaker for any non BCS team. Utah lost a lot of seniors who were a part of that great team and it took a while to get back to normal. We are back and tis your season to be worried. The kitty cat cougars are now match for the mighty UTES this year, or in fact any future year

re:Bowen | 6:29 p.m. June 18, 2008

Heard it last year, and the year before.

You have got to play the game, and quit talking about the game.

(UNLV... Uh-oh... sorry, that just slipped out, but since it's out there, how are you guys going to match up against the Rebel's this year? They're not ranked, so you should be able to handle them, right?)

Utah has had a great year once in the past 40 (Most Cougar fans I know respected the team for their efforts "THAT" year) and your coach had smoke coming off his sneakers as he was heading out of town faster than anyone on your defensive squad.

Live in the now, quit living in your year of the "Urban Legend" and we'll back off the National Championship talk, Heisman, Outland Trophy Winners, etc...

Michigan | 6:30 p.m. June 18, 2008

Opening game in the "BIG HOUSE"???

Michigan by 27.

We're all the same | 7:15 p.m. June 18, 2008

I think it's hilarious that many of the Ute fans think they can stereotype all BYU fans based on those who write comments on a newspaper comment board.
It's even funnier when they think they wouldn't react the same way given the same situation. Look at Utah fans' response to the Athalon rankings and our own response to the Phil Steele rankings.
But let's not forget that Cougar fans can be the same way. Because, hey, we're all the same. Some of us just cheer for an inferior school. Just kidding.

We shall see . . . . . | 7:35 p.m. June 18, 2008

I will bet that this poll is closer to the final AP and Coaches polls from top to bottom than any other pre-season magazine out there.

In fact, it will be closer than any of the people commenting here could do.

Stop looking only at last years win totals as a predictor for this seasons rankings. There are other factors to consider: number of returning starters, which starters return, who will be back from injury, strength of schedule, when and where a teams toughest games will be played, etc.

Utah returns 16 starters from a team that won 9 games last year; they get Casteel and Asiata back from injury; Brian Johnson should be healthy this year; they play Oregon State, TCU, and BYU at home, they get extra time to prepare for Wyo and SDSU; Weber State and Utah State are on the schedule; and Utah has a bye before they play New Mexico.

There are many reasons to believe Utah will win 10 or more games this year.

Impartial | 7:37 p.m. June 18, 2008

Objectively, I have a hard time distinguishing between which schedule is more difficult, but although I'd like each teams fans to stop crying about it, I don't have any unreasonable expectation that they will.

For what it's worth, Phil Steele says BYU has the more difficult schedule, but looking at the teams directly:
Worst game (Adv. BYU with N. Iowa over Weber St)
Best non-conference road game (Adv. Utah with Michigan over Washington)
Best non-conference home game (Adv. BYU with UCLA over Oregon State)
Wyoming (Adv. Utah with road vs. home)
TCU (Adv. BYU with road vs. home)
New Mexico (Adv. Utah with road vs. home)
CSU (Adv. BYU with road vs. home)
SDSU (Adv. Utah with road vs. home)
Utah State, UNLV and Air Force - Draw
The only distinguishing factor will be who has to play the better competition in the rivalry game. Of course, based on the outcome of that game, no one will care who had a more difficult schedule.

. . . We shall see cont. . . . | 7:37 p.m. June 18, 2008

. . . . . . BYU, however, has many reasons to believe they will not win as many games as Utah.

They return 12 starters, only 3 on defense; play at Washington, at TCU on a short week, and at Utah after facing the Air force option; they were very fortunate not to lose key players to injury last year, will they be so fortunate this year?; their best blocking back, Tonga, is off the team; and UCLA & Utah State have bye-weeks before they play BYU.

BYU will struggle to get to 9 or 10 wins this year.

Can't beat UNLV??? | 7:45 p.m. June 18, 2008

Allow me to remind all the obsessive-compulsive zoobies who can't seem to repeat Utah's ONE loss to the Rebels often enough (yes, I know not all Y fans are like that), that it was only a few short years ago that the TDS was losing to UNLV

October 8, 2004 UNLV 24, BYU 20 (one of only two UNLV victories that year)
October 19, 2002 UNLV 24, BYU 3

Come on Fans, or Players? | 8:13 p.m. June 18, 2008

I have a life so I only read the first 10-15 comments, but I read a lot of "we (didn't know you were on the team) did x and y in the last couple of years" from Cougar fans. There is a mantra in finance, that applies to football, that you should learn. It goes like this "past performance does not indicate future results." What the Cougars have done in the past two years doesn't mean anything about football played this coming season.

The Utes are playing a Michigan team that has a new coach, with a completely new system. They looked horrible in their Spring game. They don't have the players to run the spread. I'm an alum of Utah and OSU. I can't wait to see Michigan go down to my two teams in the same year.

The rest of the tough Ute games are at home. They probably have a better shot at a BCS game this year than the Cougars. The sad reality is that if either team loses even one game they will play some bottom -dweller PAC 10 team that hopefully has a winning record.

For Utah to Beat Michigan | 8:15 p.m. June 18, 2008

They should just dress up like Ohio State. Michigan will just roll and submit, just like they have during 6 out of the 7 last years.

Michigan sucks. Even more so under Rodriguez. Even more so considering all their best players just jumped ship to go to Ohio State.

mnhusker | 8:23 p.m. June 18, 2008

BYU in the top 25? What a joke!

RE: mnhusker | 8:29 p.m. June 18, 2008

Your comment was allowed to be posted? What a joke!

Blog | 8:45 p.m. June 18, 2008

I read phills blog and the thing that he ranks highest in is returning starters. He has no clue about the mtn west. According to the way he ranks things, and the information that he has, the Utes would be ranked higher than the cougs, so calm down Cougs.

Go cougars.

M D will make Utah roll..submit | 9:11 p.m. June 18, 2008

For Utah to Beat Michigan...you will be suprised what Rodriguez and, maybe more importantly, Mike Barwis (new strength/conditioning coach) will be able to do with the talent at UofM. I understand people are saying that M will be breaking in new system, lost players etc.,etc. There is no way that Rodriguez will allow his tenure at M to open up with a loss to Utah. Michigan has ten times the talent Utah has even without Justin Boren...the only player who transfered to OSUck, who by all accounts was a lazy hack that couldn't cut Barwis' workouts. Michigan will have an excellent D that will destroy the Utah offense...see you August 30th?

Unbelievable | 9:14 p.m. June 18, 2008

I can't believe the Cougars made the top 20.

Steal Fill | 9:54 p.m. June 18, 2008

Obviously this Phil Steele guy is a joke. How Credibile is a guy who ranks the lowly Utes over the Mighty Cougars? Might as well place Utah State in at #9.

Polls are Worthless!!!!! | 10:10 p.m. June 18, 2008

Pre-season polls are about as accurate as the Yewts defense on 4th and 18. Shhhhhh

blue blood | 10:22 p.m. June 18, 2008

Utah in the top 25? What a joke!

Did you look at all the teams... | 10:34 p.m. June 18, 2008

Did anyone notice any of the other rankings on here?

This guy has Notre Dame ranked 19th. What?!!! Did he spend last fall with his head buried in sand? Sure, ND may be better this year than they were last year, but that's only because they couldn't be any worse. Any worse and they would have been dropped to Div 1-AA (or whatever it's called now). They'll be lucky to win 5 games this year.

He also has USF ranked #8. What?!!!! That's even crazier than either BYU's or Utah's ranking here.

He has Georgia ranked #9 (behind USF...). Did he turn on his TV after mid-October? Georgia was playing the best football in the country by the end of the year, and they have a ton of players back.

And he has West Virginia #6...last time I checked WVU lost their head coach and their entire program is in turmoil. They still have talent, but #6 (and 3 spots ahead of Georgia)...not this year.

So before anyone gets too excited about BYU or Utah's ranking in this "poll," it looks to me like the guy who created this thing is a clown.

Utah Phans | 10:47 p.m. June 18, 2008

Hey, enjoy what you can get,

You know it won't happen on the field.

This is crazy... | 11:19 p.m. June 18, 2008

Who honestly think Philly boy knows what he's talkin' about? He's way off...

Ute fans enjoy this while it lasts. By the way... Just cause Utah plays in Michigan doesn't mean Utah has the tougher schedule. Wait a minute... Weber St. is one of the toughest around. Might just get App. Stated. Knowing Kyle... That'll happen. On top of Weber -- there's that other team that whooped ya... UNLV.

BYU plays the tougher schedule. Playing at Utah, TCU, and Washington(they're tougher than what others lead on). With UCLA at home and they can't be taken lightly no matter what.

Utah does do well with OOC games but for some reason can't do it with Conf. games.

There's a very good chance that both teams will end up in the top 25. In all reality... BYU will start the season in the top 25 and Utah somewhere in the 30's.

Athlon sports is a lot more reliable than Philly boy who isn't accurate -- at that much. Athlon has been very close on their predictions on the past years.

Nothing against the rankings BUT I trust Athlon tons more than this dude.

Anyways | 12:01 a.m. June 19, 2008

Anyways isn't a word. Anyways, I hate BYU

San Diego Charger | 12:09 a.m. June 19, 2008

Until the MWC starts winning out of conference games consistantly, maybe you should root for each other instead of bickering...
That is until the Utes crush the Kitties in November.

CTR | 12:43 a.m. June 19, 2008

"Qwest for perfection" That's just about as realistic as "Fully Invested"
Dumb slogans, just goes to prove Bronco really is the guy Biff in back to the future just pretending to be a coach!

UNLV | 12:51 a.m. June 19, 2008

Not only are the Utes ranked ahead of BYU in football, the Rebels also broke the top 25 in bb. Funny, it seems the cougars bubble is bursting.

HaHaHa, funny to see.

ha ha | 1:46 a.m. June 19, 2008

BYU fans are pathetic if the cougs were ranked 14th in the paper they would say it was very legit. But since its the utes its a fake magazine gimme a break. This year is the utes year in the past every season something bad has happened and were still descent. This year brian johnsons senior season returning defence we should look deadly. BYU in the last couple years the tide has been on there side this year its our time.

ha ha | 2:08 a.m. June 19, 2008

This is a joke poll right? They have the Fighting Irish at 19. give me a break....

Where are the other PAC-10 teams? Heck, even UCLA beats BYU every time.

They have missed some mighty fine teams on the list.

Red team in top 25? LOL | 6:30 a.m. June 19, 2008

LOL, we'll see how long the red team's top 25 ranking lasts. My guess is that pollsters will forgive the loss at Michigan but that the home loss to UNLV will be too much to stay ranked.

Meanwhile, it's not all good for the mighty Cougars in blue, since they appear to have a season where they will be favored in every game. In other words, anything less than undefeated will not be good enough, and even an undefeated season probably won't get much respect.

Michigan Cougar | 6:37 a.m. June 19, 2008

Talk is cheap like yewt victories.

There is No Meltdown of BYU fans. The yewts were talked about very nicely by ESPN last season as one of the better 8-4 or 9-3 type teams in the country.

Coach Kyle hasn't won a MWC championship yet while BYU has won two in a row. BYU has posted conscecutive 11-2 seasons while the utes have been an above AVERAGE team.

Ute fans begged the football gods last season to bring disaster down on BYU hoping for some midseason
meltdown that NEVER occured. And when the utes failed to play an entire game of defense against the Cougars, they lost AGAIN in the last minute.

Yeah the utes may bring a more balanced team back and BYU has gotten a lot of Hype about their team, but no one will know for certain as to what happens until each team steps on the field.

Ute fans hoping Michigan overlooks them like App. State? No way in......well you know? Coach Rod will have the Wolverines more than ready to play......

BYU has put the numbers up the last two years....utah has done nothing to move into any poll. Least wise ahead of BYU..........

Reality Check | 6:53 a.m. June 19, 2008

The utes are ranked ahead of BYU in a 'Pre-season' poll. Gee, that is impressive when you consider the fact that Utah is considered Only a slightly better-than average-team that consistently wins seven or eight games. And take into consideration that BYU has conscecutive championships in the conference and the utes have none..............what is the precedent for the the utes so-called higher ranking.

Oh that's right, the utes will sneak up on Michigan like Appalachian State, and shock the world of college football again? NOT.

Oh, and one more thing, the real shock to the world of college football will come the weekend the utes play Weber. Gee you would think the utes will win this one by 50 or more. The utes and their tougher schedule than BYU? The utes embarrassingly falls from the grace of the college football world.......

Weber 13 Utah 12

Your season comes to an end(at least in terms of any great expectation)and never recovers from the disgrace this vaunted Ute team brings on the Mountain West...as it won't matter what you do the rest of the season. Weber becomes the new App. State. Utah becomes the new Michigan that everyone pities....

How sad..............

A Name By any Other | 6:55 a.m. June 19, 2008

Looks like a ute fan controls this blog.......

pshap | 7:05 a.m. June 19, 2008

Don't take Washington too lightly. We've got possibly the #1 QB in the nation. Jake Locker, YES.... YOU WILL BE REMEMBERING HIS NAME! He is the best passing and running QB in Husky history.

Phil says it's math? | 7:14 a.m. June 19, 2008

Read Phils method used in developing his poll. While it's based on math, the process for assignment of values is subject to error (i.e. USF, Utah, ND etc)

Secondly, it sets up Mich to beat a ranked team early in the season(UTAH).

Third, it sells his books in a new market!!!

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