Why Utah could be a favorite in the 2024 Big 12 race

The great conference realignment of 2024 is set to take place this summer and will see Oklahoma and Texas leave the Big 12 in favor of the SEC, while the conference gains Utah, Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado.

On3’s Andy Staples explains why the Utes in particular have the best shot of any team — incoming or not — to win the 2024 Big 12 Championship.

“Utah was one of the best programs in the Pac 12 last year,” Staples said. “Utah was a very strange situation with Cam Rising coming off a knee injury in the Rose Bowl that was very serious. And I think they knew before the season started, that they weren’t gonna have Cam Rising all year. … So they move into the Big 12, which is a much easier league than the version of the Pac-12 they left. The Pac-12, last year, was so deep that this will be an easier road for Utah.

“If you look at their schedule, every game is winnable. … There is no game that you look at on this schedule for Utah, where you think that’s a loss.”

Staples reviewed the Utes’ schedule for the 2024 season, highlighting two road games in particular: at Oklahoma State and at UCF. Those will be the games that could make or break head coach Kyle Whittingham’s squad in their inaugural season in the Big 12.

Iowa State, BYU and Arizona will all face Utah at home during the 2024 regular season as well. To Staples, this schedule is much more manageable than the one they played this past season in the Pac-12, which included matchups against the likes of Oregon and Washington, among others.

“They just went 8-5, but they kind of ran out of gas. And that’s to be expected,” Staples continued. “They didn’t never had the quarterback you’re expected to have. They never could quite get that going. So they lost five of the last seven but I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. Now, Cam Rising is back. Brant Kuithe is back. They got another tight end, Carsen Ryan, who’s from Utah but played originally at UCLA, he comes in. They have Landen King who came from Auburn before last season. So that position group is very deep on the line of scrimmage they’re always good.

“They lost Jonah Ellis who was their best edge rusher to the draft. But almost everybody else who contributed on the defensive line is back, all three starting linebackers are back and of course Kyle Whittingham is their coach and Kyle Whittingham is one of the best coaches in America. … Utah seems like a team that I would consider one of the favorites along with maybe Kansas State to win the new Big 12 in 2024.”