Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) celebrates a landing with Utes tight finish Brant Kuithe (80) through the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. Can the Utes — who return 66% of their manufacturing from final yr, together with Rising and Kuithe — be a critical Faculty Soccer Playoff contender in 2022? Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
It’s far too early to know who can be taking part in on this yr’s Faculty Soccer Playoff, as packages across the nation are merely going by spring drills proper now.
Nonetheless, that doesn’t cease the media from speculating which groups might be actual CFP contenders within the 2022 season.
Contemplate defending Pac-12 champion Utah — which kicked off spring camp Tuesday — in that camp, at the least in keeping with ESPN’s Heather Dinich.
Dinich recognized the Utes as one in all 4 groups to be thought of the highest fringe candidates to achieve the CFP within the coming season. The opposite packages on that record embody Notre Dame, Oklahoma State and Baylor, and he or she additionally checked out if Michigan and Cincinnati can return to the CFP.
Listed below are a number of causes Utah is a compelling staff to interrupt into the Faculty Soccer Playoff, in addition to why the Utes might not.
How a lot returning expertise does Utah soccer carry again?
After going 10-4 through the 2021 season and reaching the Rose Bowl for the primary time in program historical past, expectations are excessive for the Utes.
Utah is dropping some expertise, together with guys like linebackers Devin Lloyd and Nephi Sewell, extensive receiver/returner Britain Covey, offensive linemen Nick Ford and Bamidele Olaseni and defensive lineman Mika Tafua to call a number of, however that doesn’t imply the Utes are beginning over.
Utah returns 66% of its manufacturing from final yr, in keeping with ESPN’s Invoice Connelly. That features 71% on offense and 61% on protection, which ranks fifty fifth nationally in Connelly’s newest breakdown of returning manufacturing.
By comparability, defending nationwide champion Georgia returns 59% of its manufacturing, whereas nationwide runner-up Alabama is at 65%.
The 2 different CFP groups from final season, Michigan (65%) and Cincinnati (59%), return related numbers, per Connelly.
Amongst Pac-12 groups that certified for bowl video games final season, solely Oregon State (73%) returns extra manufacturing than Utah. Oregon (63%), Arizona State (61%), UCLA (57%) and Washington State (52%) return much less manufacturing than the Utes.
USC, which employed former Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley this offseason to steer its program, returns 59% of its manufacturing from a staff that went 4-8 final season.
Is Utah set at quarterback?
The Utes aren't any strangers to breaking into the big-time postseason image. Along with going to the Rose Bowl final yr, Utah was the unique BCS buster, taking part in within the Fiesta Bowl within the 2004 season, and once more returned to a serious bowl in 2008, taking part in within the Sugar Bowl.
Alex Smith was the staff’s quarterback in 2004, and he went on to be the No. 1 general choice within the subsequent yr’s NFL draft. Brian Johnson, Utah’s QB in 2008, was a senior that yr, and he’s risen up by the teaching ranks and is at the moment the QB coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Not like then, although, the Utes are returning their star quarterback this time after taking part in in one of many nation’s premier bowls.
Cam Rising took over Utah’s beginning quarterback position halfway by the staff’s third sport in 2021 and have become a first-team All-Pac-12 choice whereas throwing for two,493 yards, 20 touchdowns and 5 interceptions and speeding for 499 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Higher but, the switch from Texas is a junior and the unquestioned chief of the Utes’ offense.
Why ought to Utah be a Faculty Soccer Playoff contender?
Dinich highlights the truth that the Utes had been taking part in their greatest soccer on the finish of final season — Utah received six straight, together with the Pac-12 championship sport, earlier than falling to Ohio State in an exciting, tight Rose Bowl.
Plus, Utah is returning its veteran coach, Kyle Whittingham, whereas different Pac-12 contenders like USC (Riley) and Oregon (Dan Lanning) have new head coaches.
“Utah is extra confirmed heading into the autumn, and the defending Pac-12 champ must be favored once more to win the league. The Utes are coming off a memorable Rose Bowl, and the expectations ought to enhance despite the loss to Ohio State,” Dinich wrote.
“Coach Kyle Whittingham stated 70 of 85 scholarship gamers from that Rose Bowl sport can be underclassmen. Whittingham has put his program in place for a playoff spot earlier than, and the muse is ready to do it once more. Additionally they know what it takes to defeat Oregon and win the league. There’s just one factor left.”
Why shouldn’t Utah be a Faculty Soccer Playoff contender?
The case in opposition to Utah is so simple as wanting on the Pac-12 as a complete. Whereas the Pac-12 is among the many Energy 5 conferences, “the league is infamous for beating one another up,” Dinich wrote.
The Pac-12 additionally hasn’t had a consultant within the Faculty Soccer Playoff since 2017. That’s the longest drought amongst Energy 5 conferences.
Dinich additionally factors to Utah’s latest monitor report, and the way the Utes must show they will recover from the hump to make an actual case for the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
“Utah has fallen flat on the large stage earlier than. In 2019, the one-loss Utes entered the Pac-12 title sport in opposition to Oregon with playoff hopes on the road. With all the choice committee watching, Utah misplaced to Oregon 37-15,” she wrote. “This time, the Utes beat the No. 10 Geese however had been already out of the image.
“So as to put all of it collectively, they need to develop consistency. It has to start out on Week 1, as a loss at Florida will put the Utes in a must-win scenario for the remainder of the season.”