So How Good Is/Was Utah, Really?

[The-Hack]

We won’t know ‘till the season is done, but looking back over the last 5 years of recruiting, they have hardly recruited at a blistering pace, likely no better than about the 13th best average recruiting class in the SEC.

2022 . . . . 37th
2021 . . . . 37th
2020 . . . . 31st
2019 . . . . 60th
2018 . . . . 37th
2017 . . . . 25th

That’s an average of about 38th over the last 6 years. And that’s just a tad below NC State’s average, a few more slots below Iowa, and just a few more lower than Kentucky’s average.

I know they’ve risen to the top of the PAC with those classes, but I honestly think Kentucky and Iowa would have seriously challenged for a PAC title the last few years.

Oregon got flattened by Georgia about as badly as UGA beats FCS programs.

I suspect UF gained a victory on about the same level as beating Mizzou or NC State level
talent.

A solid win, buuuut, enough for a ranking of 12th?

I kind of had hoped Florida would lose, thinking they might pack it in for the year, early.

But really, this sets up perfectly for Kentucky. Florida was pretty lucky to win, and has received a high ranking.

I don’t see the game being decided by more than ten points, but if it is by more, I think
Kentucky is likelier to run away with it than UF.

 

[bthaunert]

Last year is the perfect example of Utah. They went 8-1 in the PAC and went 2-3 in non conference with losses to BYU, SDSU and Ohio State. In the last 5 years, they are 25-7 in the PAC and 8-8 OOC, including 0-4 against P5 teams OOC.

 

[mrschwump]

Won their league in '21, played and lost in Rose Bowl, lost a lot off that team to graduation/NFL. Their QB is as good or better than any QB in college ball.

 

[dallasg23]

Utah is a good program, and they’re decently coached but their protected by bad conference. They are usually very competitive and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them get embarrassingly beat in terms of a blow out.

 

[cats2010]

Florida has looked pretty bad at the beginning of the last 5 seasons or so and we have still only managed a 2-3 record against them. Not concerned how good/bad Utah was but only how much our line play can improve from week 1 to 2. If as bad week 2 as it was week 1 then could be a long night. For the first time in a long time, our skill positions are in good shape even with a RB room that has already taken a hit.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Utah is a good program, and they’re decently coached but their protected by bad conference. They are usually very competitive and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them get embarrassingly beat in terms of a blow out.

And lets face it, they dont have the overall talent, especially on D that UK currently has.

 

[JimBR]

The recruiting rankings tend to lower your ceiling. Their coach seems to be well respected.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

The recruiting rankings tend to lower your ceiling. Their coach seems to be well respected.

Plus, Napier came from Louisiana not Louisiana State. We play big boy football in the SEC Mr. Napier. Make sure you put your big boy pants on before you face UK Sat. Night.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

We won’t know ‘till the season is done, but looking back over the last 5 years of recruiting, they have hardly recruited at a blistering pace, likely no better than about the 13th best average recruiting class in the SEC.

2022 . . . . 37th
2021 . . . . 37th
2020 . . . . 31st
2019 . . . . 60th
2018 . . . . 37th
2017 . . . . 25th

That’s an average of about 38th over the last 6 years. And that’s just a tad below NC State’s average, a few more slots below Iowa, and just a few more lower than Kentucky’s average.

I know they’ve risen to the top of the PAC with those classes, but I honestly think Kentucky and Iowa would have seriously challenged for a PAC title the last few years.

Oregon got flattened by Georgia about as badly as UGA beats FCS programs.

I suspect UF gained a victory on about the same level as beating Mizzou or NC State level
talent.

A solid win, buuuut, enough for a ranking of 12th?

I kind of had hoped Florida would lose, thinking they might pack it in for the year, early.

But really, this sets up perfectly for Kentucky. Florida was pretty lucky to win, and has received a high ranking.

I don’t see the game being decided by more than ten points, but if it is by more, I think
Kentucky is likelier to run away with it than UF.

Utah may not have the talent most teams do but they are always fundamentally sound and Islam don’t beat themselves, so it’s a good win for Florida but Kentucky will definitely be a step in terms of athleticism and speed and skillset

 

[lazydave841]

Florida held on to win, but it's nowhere close to a situation where people are like "Florida wins this game 9 out of 10 times."

I'm not so sure Utah was the #7 team either but I don't vote. One thing they Utes were is balanced. Near even rushing and passing. Another thing they were was ineffective in the red zone. 2 drives where they couldn't score from inside the 3 yard and turned the ball over. Another trip in the red zone yielded only a FG. 1 more FG sends em to OT. 2 wins the game.

Stopping AR from running and not leaving any points is going to the keys for Kentucky.

 

[WyleECoyote]

Wow Florida recorded 0 sacks against Utah. That tells me they don't have the same pass rush in years past either. Although Utah does have a heavy OL, ours is bigger than Utah's. So if Florida couldn't beat Utah's line with speed, what makes us think they can beat ours with just speed?

 

[Dddjdd]

I think they were overrated but that they’re pretty good. Maybe should’ve been ranked 20-25 or so. I think they compete with most SEC schools in that tier below UGA and Bama. So same tier as us/UF/UT/Arkansas/Ole Miss

 

[Crankdatmustard]

UTAH failed to garner any points on two trips inside the 10 yard line. They very easily could have won this game. That is a fact no one is talking about.

 

[bthaunert]

UTAH failed to garner any points on two trips inside the 10 yard line. They very easily could have won this game. That is a fact no one is talking about.

It is crazy how that works. If the Utah QB throws a touchdown from the 6 yard line with 17 seconds to go, instead of an interception, the entire narrative is different. 1 play changes the landscape of how Utah and Florida is talked about.

 

[NoviG8r]

... Although Utah does have a heavy OL, ours is bigger than Utah's. ....

Actually, Utah & Kentucky have the same size on their respective 2-deep Offensive Lines. The difference in average weight is about 3 pounds.

 

[The-Hack]

Actually, Utah & Kentucky have the same size on their respective 2-deep Offensive Lines. The difference in average weight is about 3 pounds.

Yeah, but in our favor!

 

[CB3UK]

This matchup with Florida feels fairly even. People always overreact to Week 1. Utah was not the 7th best team in the nation. Nor is Florida the 12th best. I felt like we'd finish the season ranked somewhere around #15 and I still feel that way.

There's no secret.....stop AR from running and getting loose. Will is going to have to make some plays and put them team on his shoulders.

I suspect we are able to run thr ball decently because we always seem to do the opposite of what you expect. This time last week we thought the WRs were our weakness. How fast things can change game to game. I guarantee we've spent all week focusing on getting that lineplay shored up. Having Horsey back will obviously help.


This feels like a field goal winning game to me. 31-28

 

[wildcatglenn]

Not very good. I honestly think the voters want to keep some PAC 12 teams in the poll to keep people out west interested

 

[Bereacat420]

It is crazy how that works. If the Utah QB throws a touchdown from the 6 yard line with 17 seconds to go, instead of an interception, the entire narrative is different. 1 play changes the landscape of how Utah and Florida is talked about.

If their RB didn't trip on the other trip inside the 5, they win by double digits. Gotta give UF credit for coming back and pulling out a close win. If our OL blocks Sat we can run on them, and if that happens, Levis will light them up

 

[rudd1]

-Utah is a decent team that is getting way too much credit for "competing" with ohio* in the rose bowl last season.

*their D was horrible last year...and they had multiple offensive threats opt out to prepare for the draft.

 

[Sparkaces1]

-Utah is a decent team that is getting way too much credit for "competing" with ohio* in the rose bowl last season.

*their D was horrible last year...and they had multiple offensive threats opt out to prepare for the draft.

They have a good QB and I think read where they had the best pair of TE's in the country but I highly doubt they are better than UGA or maybe our TE's. I also highly doubt their linebackers have nearly the speed as UK's.

 

[dallasg23]

Watching the replay now. Their Oline is pretty solid.

 

[dallasg23]

But as I said, their Dline is small compared to the cats

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Utah is a solid enough team, but nothing special. They may end up in a New Year's 6 bowl due to the weak Pac 12, but probably a 6-6 to 7-5 type team in the SEC IMO.

None of that matters for our chances on Saturday though...was going to be tough whether FL beat Utah or lost to Utah by 20.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

We won’t know ‘till the season is done, but looking back over the last 5 years of recruiting, they have hardly recruited at a blistering pace, likely no better than about the 13th best average recruiting class in the SEC.

2022 . . . . 37th
2021 . . . . 37th
2020 . . . . 31st
2019 . . . . 60th
2018 . . . . 37th
2017 . . . . 25th

That’s an average of about 38th over the last 6 years. And that’s just a tad below NC State’s average, a few more slots below Iowa, and just a few more lower than Kentucky’s average.

I know they’ve risen to the top of the PAC with those classes, but I honestly think Kentucky and Iowa would have seriously challenged for a PAC title the last few years.

Oregon got flattened by Georgia about as badly as UGA beats FCS programs.

I suspect UF gained a victory on about the same level as beating Mizzou or NC State level
talent.

A solid win, buuuut, enough for a ranking of 12th?

I kind of had hoped Florida would lose, thinking they might pack it in for the year, early.

But really, this sets up perfectly for Kentucky. Florida was pretty lucky to win, and has received a high ranking.

I don’t see the game being decided by more than ten points, but if it is by more, I think
Kentucky is likelier to run away with it than UF.

I don’t buy Utah. They remind me of Gonzaga. They barely have any NFL talent.

 

[BBBLazing]

I do think that the PAC12's weakness resulted in Utah being a bit over ranked preseason, but also think they are a pretty solid team with good coaches. Florida always has talent and who knows how quickly this coach is able to take advantage of that. I'm concerned about the left side of the OLine and hope that gets fixed. I've read that some adjustments have been made. Also, Will needs to have a little better pocket presence and either ditch the ball or take off when a sack is inevitable. Having said that, I have cautious optimism that our team is as good as the pre-season hype and the first Miami of Ohio drive was just our boys getting acclimated to the season. I've bet a parlay with us getting 6, and bet it again with Florida giving 6. Just hope UCF covers against UL, Hawaii can not lose by more than 51 and Missouri can lose be less than 7 to Kansans State. 2 parlays, 50 to win 550, so 100 to win 550. I don't need the money, but would like to have it. It just keeps me watching from Friday night until Saturday night.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Wow Florida recorded 0 sacks against Utah. That tells me they don't have the same pass rush in years past either. Although Utah does have a heavy OL, ours is bigger than Utah's. So if Florida couldn't beat Utah's line with speed, what makes us think they can beat ours with just speed?

Or it could tell you the QB was getting the ball out in 2 seconds behind a very experienced OL.

 

[MrHotDice]

They basically get kids after they have gone on 2-4 year missions For their church. Utah BYU, and UTAH have a lot of old mature players.

 

[NoviG8r]

They basically get kids after they have gone on 2-4 year missions For their church. Utah BYU, and UTAH have a lot of old mature players.

This, and Utah also has a number of Pacific Islander / Samoan guys on their Offensive Line.

 

[SECCountry75]

We won’t know ‘till the season is done, but looking back over the last 5 years of recruiting, they have hardly recruited at a blistering pace, likely no better than about the 13th best average recruiting class in the SEC.

2022 . . . . 37th
2021 . . . . 37th
2020 . . . . 31st
2019 . . . . 60th
2018 . . . . 37th
2017 . . . . 25th

That’s an average of about 38th over the last 6 years. And that’s just a tad below NC State’s average, a few more slots below Iowa, and just a few more lower than Kentucky’s average.

I know they’ve risen to the top of the PAC with those classes, but I honestly think Kentucky and Iowa would have seriously challenged for a PAC title the last few years.

Oregon got flattened by Georgia about as badly as UGA beats FCS programs.

I suspect UF gained a victory on about the same level as beating Mizzou or NC State level
talent.

A solid win, buuuut, enough for a ranking of 12th?

I kind of had hoped Florida would lose, thinking they might pack it in for the year, early.

But really, this sets up perfectly for Kentucky. Florida was pretty lucky to win, and has received a high ranking.

I don’t see the game being decided by more than ten points, but if it is by more, I think
Kentucky is likelier to run away with it than UF.

Your first sentence answers your question. Last week, Florida was unranked. Today they are #12. At this point in the season, rankings mean nothing. We have far too few data points to know whether Utah is any good.

What we know for sure is that it is ALWAYS a formidable task for any non-SEC team to travel to an SEC stadium and beat the home team. Flying across several time zones to play in Gainesville is tough in any year. For Utah or anyone.

 

[LordEggForgotHisPassword]

they have high altitude training which makes them strong.

 

[SECCountry75]

they have high altitude training which makes them strong.

4900 ft above sea level. Probably something to that. But it didn't teach them how to avoid throwing interceptions.

 

[UKat1]

Plus, Napier came from Louisiana not Louisiana State. We play big boy football in the SEC Mr. Napier. Make sure you put your big boy pants on before you face UK Sat. Night.

So does UF....apparently they've been playing a lot more big boy football than we have when you compare our records

 

[CatWalk]

-Utah is a decent team that is getting way too much credit for "competing" with ohio* in the rose bowl last season.

*their D was horrible last year...and they had multiple offensive threats opt out to prepare for the draft.

While the score against OSU in the Rose Bowl was close, OSU gained 683 yards against them to their 463. OSU may have had one more possession. OSU averaged 561 yds/game last year. UTAH averaged 431 yds/game last year.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

So does UF....apparently they've been playing a lot more big boy football than we have when you compare our records

You totally missed my point.