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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Go MWC | 12:51 p.m. June 18, 2008

I hope to see two unbeaten teams play each other at the end of the season, but seriously, do you Ute fans actually believe that you will be able to beat Michigan in the Big House? Michigan is NOT going to allow another Appalachian State happen again this year. You can hope and dream, but they are not going to lose two season openers in a row. Utah has potential to be a great team, but before we forget, everyone last year said BYU was going to be terrible because they were going to be "rebuilding" their offense. So I guess BYU has to "rebuild" their defense this year, right? Go Cougars!!!

To Whos Sorry | 12:59 p.m. June 18, 2008

Think how good BYU would have been if Whittingham had accepted!

Obsessive one-liners | 12:59 p.m. June 18, 2008

Exactly how many times will zoobies repeat their "still open" line? Its old. Find something new. Stop obsessing over ONE loss to UNLV. Is there not a shred of creativity down in Provo?

Comments continue below

Fully Invested! | 12:59 p.m. June 18, 2008

We can whine and moan... some of us "cougar fans" can be ignorant, and rediculous. You can call us all of the names in the book! Steele has not only, Utah, who got shut out by respectably one of the worst teams in the nation last year, and a team that had 9 losses in the top 25. This has no effect on the AP polls. 4th and 18... nice covereage... how bout when unga plows through for the touchdown and the poor utes in a ball crying... hey lookin forward to another domination by the Cougars! Not only in the MWC but in our outside conference games too!

Re: Go MWC | 1:09 p.m. June 18, 2008

The only real question for BYU last year was whether they would have good QB play or not. They returned most of their offensive line, Reed and Tonga, plus they were getting a proven player back in Austin Collie.

I wouldn't call that rebuilding your offense.

On defense, they have to replace 8 starters. That is a lot harder than finding a new QB and RB.

Utah beating Michigan wouldn't be "another Appalachian State." Utah is a good D1 team that is not that far removed from winning a BCS game and wins bowl games more frequently than BYU fans change their underwear. It wouldn't be a bad loss for Michigan if they were to lose.

andrewute1 | 1:17 p.m. June 18, 2008

Michigan wont let appalachian st happen again? Utah is a D-1 established school that will win in michigan. Plus this year michigan lost a a great qb, runningback, recievers, o-line shall i go on. . .

Sam Shields | 1:22 p.m. June 18, 2008

He is so stupid if he thinks the utes are better than BYU look at the offense is gonna be good maybe he should look at ESPNs poll

Utah Cougar | 1:27 p.m. June 18, 2008

OK people, let's look at this from an objective standpoint. THIS IS A GOOD THING. I being a cougar fan am thrilled that Utah is also ranked. This brings credence to the conference and shows that the Utes and Cougars are finally getting the recognition they deserve. I say, go Utah and beat everyone that comes in your path, but watch out in November, because BYU WILL WIn. Even though I still think that this poll is a little jacked (Notre Dame? Cal?). Last year maybe this poll would have made sense, but not this year. Good luck Utah, see you in November!

lezoave | 1:30 p.m. June 18, 2008

I agree with BBKing. Wouldn't it be exciting if both teams ran the tables in preparation for a final showdown in Rice Eccles? Two top ten teams battling it out for MWC supremacy and possibly a shot at a BCS title? Now, THAT is an exciting thought.

College FB Fan | 1:36 p.m. June 18, 2008

Stop pretending like this guy just came to Earth in a UFO and started making college football predictions. He is actually the most accurate college football predictor in the nation. Nice that just because byu is 3 spots below Utah you have to flip out. I think it's great that the MWC has two teams in this poll.

Realism | 1:38 p.m. June 18, 2008

The Poll's a stretch for both the Utes and Cougs - regardless of Steele's credibility or lack of it.

Nevertheless, there's one thing we readers can always count on - 'off-the-chart' moronic comments from a large portion of cougar fans. Try watching a college football game that isn't played in cougar stadium before you post your drivel.

Go Utes.

Jake | 1:41 p.m. June 18, 2008

everyone its ok...just go look at his website...then you will be able to tell why he knows nothing about college football...im guessing he's a utah fan who never made it so he's trying to meke himself feel better

Obsessive one-liners | 1:47 p.m. June 18, 2008

And as if in fulfillment of prophecy, "Fully Invested" only further proves my point.

BYU Ranking??? | 1:51 p.m. June 18, 2008

byU ended the season ranked in the top 15, right? So, amazing how a team that got shut out (as byU fans like to point out) by one of the most terrible teams in college football (UNLV) can come within 1 minute (and 1 miracle play) of beating the top 15 team??? byU is so mighty, that they barely beat such a terrible Ute team???

No, Utah lost more player games due to injury last year than any other football team. Without injuries (knock on wood for 2008), Utah WILL be better and WILL beat byU.

There really isn't any question....Utah's defense kept them in the game with byU last year and now they will finally have an offense to go along with their top-rated defense. I'm not sure why byU fans are even opening their mouths...its a no brainer.

rick | 1:51 p.m. June 18, 2008

the utes are much better than BYU.........

The Traveler | 2:14 p.m. June 18, 2008

Two teams with pre-season ranking in the top 20 and the MWC cannot get national coverage for the game they play against each other?

RE: Jake | 2:19 p.m. June 18, 2008

A Utah fan who never made it?????!!!!!

Phil Steele could buy and sell Brigham Young University ten times over.

Lighten up Zoobs | 2:26 p.m. June 18, 2008

It is a preseason poll. They're not good for much but fodder like this. You guys will be good, and we'll be good. Who cares? As far as our two teams go, all I care about is that we beat you in November, which we will.

I don't care if both teams are 11-0 or 0-11 or anything in between come late November. I just can't wait till we win and shut you pencil-neck dweebs up. Settle down, go watch your folk dance team or sing in the tunnels or whatever you dorks do down there and the season will start soon enough and this can be settled on the field.

Realism | 2:28 p.m. June 18, 2008

Sure, Utah has a chance of beating a rebuilding Michigan in Ann Arbor, and BYU has a good chance of getting it right against UCLA this year.

But whom among you (coug fans?) believes either of these teams could come out of a BCS conference with a ranking of 14 or 17? OK - maybe in the Big East. Big-10, PAC-10, Big-12, ACC? Slim to no chance. SEC? Never. Not with these rosters.

The rankings are a gift to a lesser conference - on all accounts.

Anonymous | 2:36 p.m. June 18, 2008

BYU fans as an outsider from the Midwest you need to realize that nobody outside Utah is impressed with your program. Nobody remembers the fact that BYU has won two strait undefeated conference championships, (unless you live in the MWC) So before you expect respect, you need to get to a BCS game and win. People east of the Mississippi think that BYU and Utah play in the WAC. Boise State and Utah actually get more attention than BYU.

It all can change | 2:41 p.m. June 18, 2008

Last year proved it all can change, this college football season in the MWC will be close the biggest factors are going to be schedule and health. If Utah can stay healthy look out they are a great team and are in a better situation this year depth wise if key personel go down. ie Louks vs a big uncoordinated QB that could do nothing. BYU should be tough, Defense is a big ? but the offense should make up for a large portion of that. I hope both teams can stay healthy, although I cannot stand BYU I wish the inury bug that the Utes had last year upon no-one not even my enemy. Additionaly instead of whining about it we should all be happy because it gives the MWC credibilty now if only we could get a better TV deal life would be great. GO UTES!!!!!!!

The Math..the quest | 2:48 p.m. June 18, 2008

I hope Utah beats MICH. and MICH goes on to win the Big 10.

Then, BYU beats UCLA and UCLA goes on to win the PAC 10.

Guess who plays in the Rose Bowl? Mich vs UCLA

When BYU beats Utah for the MWC title, the Cougars will be in position to play Florida for the Nat'l Championship.

Steele | 2:50 p.m. June 18, 2008

Phil's own words on BYU/Utah this year:

Gentlemen,

I want to thank each of you for writing and it is nice to see Mountain West fans being among the first questions as normally in May an June most of the questions come from SEC country where College Football is king 365 days of the year.

First let me address BYU. They are a team that has dominated the MWC going 16-0 the last two years and outgaining league foes by 139.4 ypg in 2006 and 157.3 ypg in 2007. Their goal this year is to get the a BCS bowl and despite having just 3 starters back on defense they are capable of accomplishing just that! I feel they have an excellent shot at knocking off

Re: Anonymous | 2:52 p.m. June 18, 2008

Thanks for the "objective" view, Anonymous. You being a U fan and all. Boise State and Utah get more attention than BYU. Collectively, you're probably right.

Who's Phil Steele??? | 3:07 p.m. June 18, 2008

I have heard of him. I just think it is funny that last week when an article stated that Athalon Sports rated BYU in the top 20, it was the Utes that were bashing Athalon and claiming that they never heard of them. BYU fan defended Athalon Sports and how well respected it is. Now it goes the other way, and Ute fan acts offended that nobody has heard of Phil Steele and act like he writes the Bible of college football. It's kind of comical.

I am a BYU fan, but I can see both BYU and/or Utah very easily in the top 25 come the end of the year. It will all come down to who gets a few breaks in their favor.

BCS Dream? | 3:16 p.m. June 18, 2008

To all you UTES who think that BYU's ultimate goal is to get to the BCS, you are as dumb as Phil Steele. The ultimate goal is to win a National Championship and last time I checked the score on that one was BYU 1 Utah 0.

Open your eyes and have fun in the Helicopter Bowl this year.

BTW - Somebody tell Coach Whit that Elton John called, he wants his fanny pack back.

Aggie fan | 3:18 p.m. June 18, 2008

Believing the Utes are the 14th best team in the country is like saying my Aggies will go bowling this year!

BYU yours is a couple slots too high as well. But should still be way ahead of the Utes.

Just my two cents. I used to have more but now it's in the gas tank.

Crimson Tide | 3:22 p.m. June 18, 2008

Actually Phil Steel's preseason publication is the Bible of College Football. Sorry. He is incredibly acurate in his preseason projections. Since 2004 he has done a section called going up. In that he predicts what teams will have the same or better record in the upcoming season. In the past 4 seasons he has put 42 teams on that list and 34 of them of matched or improved their records. Thats pretty darn accurate. Utah is on that list this year. That is very reasuring.

I personally think pre-season polls are meaningless. However, I love that BYU fans are telling Phil Steele that he is some kind of idiot. They all of course pubish a preseaon college football poll that is widely read and respected by millions of football fans across the country. They are just smarter than he is. Arrogance: (N)overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward others, see Zoobs.

Tony | 3:24 p.m. June 18, 2008

I am from PAC 10 territory. You know - big time college football. I don't care a bit about either of these two teams. Lets see USC / UCLA / Ore. / CAL / etc... or BYU / Ut. / UNLV / NM / Col. St. / etc... no contest.
Coming from Southern Cal. we hear more pub. about BYU than Utah. A couple years ago it was all about Utah and who they would play in the BCS (that team deserved better than Pitt.!) But since then we have heard nothing about Utah. BYU gets more pub.

Re: The Math . . . | 3:25 p.m. June 18, 2008

Wow.

We are all dumber for having read your post.

BYU-Provo | 3:32 p.m. June 18, 2008

People need to be more specific when refering to my school. Just for clarification please refer to our school correctly as BYU-Provo.

LOL BYU!!! | 3:33 p.m. June 18, 2008

Can't wait to beat BYU again. Remenber when we came down to your house in Provo and won 50-12. Can't wait to do it again. Too bad we don't play you girls this year. Oh yeah, we did it to Utah and Utah St.

GO BSU Broncos!!! | 3:36 p.m. June 18, 2008

50-12 BSU over BYU!!!

Re: Tony | 3:35 p.m. June 18, 2008

While I will admit the 2004 Utes deserved a better opponent than Pitt, I don't think it is fair to downgrade the Panthers.

Pitt was 8-3 and ranked #19 before the game and they were the Big East Champs. Not exactly a push-over.

andrewute1 | 3:37 p.m. June 18, 2008

Is that the secondary that gave up the 4th and 18. Yea, we're glad they're all back too. Are they the ones who Sandford said were "afraid" to tackle the UNLV running back? Yea, we're really glad they're back. Did I mention that UNLV SHUTOUT the yewtes last year? Again, SHUTOUT the hapless yewtes!!!

Geezer | 3:36 p.m. June 18, 2008

I think everyone needs to relax just a bit. This afterall is a preseason poll. I've noticed in the past that usually preseason polls favor teams which finished strong the previous year. There will be surprises. Maybe the Cougs and the Utes will fall on their faces. Maybe they'll both be top 10 material. The games will be played and we'll all find out how good the teams will be. This much we know for sure. College football starts in a little more than 2 months. Utah has a decent shot at beating Michigan in the big house. BYU has a chance to impress with big games at Washington and with UCLA at home. Life is good isn't it?

earlier comment | 3:38 p.m. June 18, 2008

There was an earlier comment about stopping one liners (4th & 18 etc...) I still hear "Utah by 5". There is a dumb one liner that must stop. Enough already. How long have we been hearing that one?

Nathaniel | 3:51 p.m. June 18, 2008

As a Ute fan, I think that 14th is a bit high. I do not put too much stock in preseason rankings anyway, but what else are we going to argue about now? Major League Soccer?

A number of people have mentioned Notre Dame - I think they are going to be much better. They have most everyone back, an easier schedule, and a stellar recruiting class.

I'm a bit nervous about Utah's defensive line, but otherwise the starters all back, plus Asiata who would have been a starter.

As for the team down south - I respect the fact that they have found walk-ons to fill in holes in their defense, but they may not always be that fortunate. It is a bit unrealistic to talk like replacing eight starters on defense is no problem whatsoever. They will have a formidable offense though, which should concern every opponent.

I'm looking forward to another fun season. Go Utes!

Blue Turf? Kidding? | 3:57 p.m. June 18, 2008

Anything worse than rabid, uneducated coug fan? It has to be bronco fan. Turns the stomach.

Hayseed - go find your own chat room. Get back to peeling potatoes with all the other Seattle-Portland rejects. Your 15 minutes are over.

By the numbers | 4:00 p.m. June 18, 2008

Bowl Records
BYU -- 26 bowls (9-16-1)
Utah -- 13 bowls (10-3)

Final Top 25 Rankings
BYU -- 14
AP Coaches
1312
1211
1311
77
11
1617
2218
2217
2323
1810
55
2524
1615
1414

Utah -- 3 & 4
AP Coaches
--14
108
2121
45

Ute in Philadelphia | 4:09 p.m. June 18, 2008

I hope to see another year, like the one back in '94, where we had 3 conference teams all finishing in the Top-25. That year it was Utah and Colorado St. in the Top-10, and that team down south rounding out the bottom of the Top-25. Could Utah, TCU, and the team down south accomplish this again? Too bad it won't make much difference in bowl opponents.

I also hope to see Colorado St. move back into the upper echelon of the MWC. They were scary good not too long ago.

GO UTES!!!

Re: earlier comment | 4:11 p.m. June 18, 2008

The difference is 'Utah by 5' was popularized by a local radio commentator. It has become a way to identify yourself as a Ute fan.

Do you hear Ute fans repeatedly saying '34-31' anymore? No, that one-liner died within months of the second victory by that score even though it had more of a leg to stand on than either of BYU's current one liners. Sure, it lived on in the commercials for quite a while, but that was not because of Ute fans.

I'm actually ok with '4th and 18' but to go back to Harline is lame.

Huh? | 4:12 p.m. June 18, 2008

Utah ranked?

BSU | 4:16 p.m. June 18, 2008

Didn't BSU get spanked by power house ECU in their hawaii bowl game. If you look at BSU's bowl record as well as the rest of the WAC, BSU and WAC fans shouldn't be poping off to much!!!

Zoobies | 4:19 p.m. June 18, 2008

Stop the one liners. They hurt, because they are true...

Also, did anyone ask to stop hearing the one about the classless onside kick and the WY coach flipping off Kyle? Or that A.Collie lives better than we do.

...stop those too, it hurts, because it's true.

Glad Phil Steele picked us higher.

I've always known we were better, we just could never do it on the field.

Brigham Brawler | 4:21 p.m. June 18, 2008

According to Steele, BYU has the tougher schedule. If Utah can catch Michigan off guard early, what a boost it will be for the BYU-Utah showdown. Go Utah.But in the end,,,,,,,, BYU 38 Utah 24,,,, we win the game and the fight,,,, always

Finally | 4:21 p.m. June 18, 2008

Finally something Y and U fans can agree on. We both dislike Boise St. Hot Rod would probably call them the pesky Broncos. And we both share a genuine dislike for Notre Dame.

Torn Fan | 4:30 p.m. June 18, 2008

I am torn with these rankings. I am a huge Ute fan and Steele is a legitimate predictor of these games, but I have some issues with the rankings. I am glad to see the Utes are ranked, 14 is a little questionable even if I do think they will be great this season. As proof, you see Clemson in the top 5 and Notre Dame on the list. We all know that ND was terrible last year. This is another reason that I am torn. It is hard to see ND on the list, but at the same time hard to imagine that ND could ever not be in the top ten with all of the recruiting they are capable of.
BYU will be great, but the defense is going to be a bigger issue than you expect. I think the hardest thing will be to replace Kehl who I saw as the leader of the team. Your kicking game will be much improved and will probably add around 6 ppg to the average though.
I can't wait for the season to start, so that we can actually have some substance to the arguments.
Go Utes

who is Phil? | 4:32 p.m. June 18, 2008

the moron who ranked Georgia down at #9 ?

what is he smoking?

re: who is Phil? | 4:38 p.m. June 18, 2008

Last year Phil ranked Georgia #11 preseason;
they ended up #2.

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