Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III (8) celebrates his landing with teammates throughout sport in opposition to Washington State at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 in Salt Lake Metropolis. The Utes are ranked No. 8 within the USA Right this moment coaches preseason ballot, whereas each BYU and Utah State obtained votes and sit outdoors the highest 25. Shafkat Anowar, Deseret Information
The USA Right this moment coaches preseason ballot was launched Monday, and whereas there have been three Utah faculty soccer groups within the closing coaches rankings of the 2021 season, just one appeared within the 2022 preseason ballot.
Utah got here in at No. 8, its highest rating ever in a preseason coaches ballot. The Utes completed the 2021 season No. 12 within the ballot.
BYU, in the meantime, was fourth amongst different groups receiving votes within the preseason ballot and Utah State tied for thirteenth in the identical class. The Cougars and Aggies completed 2021 at No. 22 and No. 24 within the coaches ballot, respectively.
With solely Utah showing within the coaches preseason ballot, it’s now been 13 years since two groups from Utah had been ranked in a coaches preseason ballot to start out a 12 months.
When was the final time two Utah groups had been ranked within the faculty soccer coaches preseason ballot?
The final time two Utah colleges had been ranked within the coaches preseason ballot was in 2009, when each Utah and BYU, as members of the Mountain West Convention, began the 12 months within the high 25.
Utah was No. 18 within the coaches preseason ballot that season after successful the Sugar Bowl the 12 months prior. The Utes completed the 2009 season with a 10-3 document, which included wins over Louisville, Air Pressure and a bowl victory over California.
BYU was No. 24 within the coaches preseason ballot that season. The Cougars completed the season with an 11-2 document, which included wins over then-No. 3 Oklahoma, a ranked Utah group and a bowl victory over Oregon State.
Each groups additionally ended the 12 months within the closing coaches ballot rankings, though BYU was forward of Utah then. BYU was at No. 12 and Utah was at No. 18.