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The University of Utah Athletics
Utes Ranked 18th in USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll
8/7/2009 12:00 AM | Football
Aug. 7, 2009
SALT LAKE CITY -
The Utah football team is ranked No. 18 in the USA Today Preseason Coaches' Poll, released today. It is the best preseason ranking in school history and marks just the second time that the Utes have cracked a major preseason poll. Utah, which has finished a season in the top 10 three times and the top 25 four times, first appeared in a preseason Coaches' poll in 2004 at No. 21.
The 2008 Utes cracked the Coaches' poll in the second week of the season, checking in at No. 23 after beating Michigan in the season opener. Utah would go on to finish 13-0 and earn a No. 2 Associated Press ranking (No. 4 USA Today-Coaches) after a Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama. Utah's No. 2/4 final ranking a year ago was the best in school history, beating the 12-0 Utes of 2004, who finished at No. 4 (A.P.)/No. 5 (Coaches). In 1994, Utah went 10-2 and placed No. 10/8 in the final rankings. The 2003 Utes finished No. 21 in both polls.
The Mountain West Conference earned a piece of history with this year's USA Today Preseason Coaches' Poll by placing three teams in the top 25. TCU was picked No. 17, Utah No. 18 and Brigham Young No. 24, marking the first time since the inception of the Bowl Championship Series that three teams from a non-automatic qualifying conference have been ranked to begin the year.
Utah will face four teams ranked in the preseason top 25. Along with TCU and BYU, Utah has a date with No. 14 Oregon.
Ute coach Kyle Whittingham professed that he doesn't place a lot of stock in preseason polls, which he called a "crapshoot." Whittingham, who had a vote in last year's weekly Coaches' poll but does not this year, said, "I'd rather be ranked than not ranked, because I think it is a sign of respect for our program and our league. However, I don't think the rankings mean much until the third or fourth week of the season when teams have played some games."
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