PFF Ranks Utah Football Outside Top 25 In Preseason List

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked all 130 FBS teams and put the Utah Utes just outside the top 25 at No. 26 heading into the 2021 season.

It’s somewhat surprising that PFF put Utah just outside the top 25, especially with the amount of talent returning and the players they brought in via the transfer portal and recruiting class.

The Utes finished the 2020 season with a 3-2 record, winning their last three games before deciding to not participate in a bowl game. They return nearly every starter on defense from last season with the exception of one of the safety positions due to Nate Ritchie serving a two-year church mission.

On offense, Utah brings back every starter on the offensive line, their tight end group and three key wide receivers. Kyle Whittingham and his staff picked up some significant commitments via the transfer portal, including Baylor QB Charlie Brewer, who will battle Cam Rising in the fall for the starting job.

We ranked all 130 FBS teams in college football

1. Alabama
8. Notre Dame
10. LSU
17. Texas

SEE WHERE YOUR TEAM RANKS ⬇️https://t.co/95nqzLjvhF

— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 25, 2021

They added key players at RB with the additions of T.J. Pledger from OU, Chris Curry out of LSU, 2021 signee Ricky Parks and Independence Community College transfer Tavion Thomas.

On PFF’s ranking of all 130 FBS teams, Utah is the third highest ranked Pac-12 team, sitting behind Oregon (13) and USC (16). Washington (29), Arizona State (33) and Stanford (44) appear in the top 50.

The rest of the Pac-12 teams positions in the ranking includes Colorado (59), Washington State (66), California (68), UCLA (71), Oregon State (84) and Arizona (100).

Based off of the PFF rankings here is where they see the Pac-12 division standings:

North

1. Oregon (13)
2. Washington (29)
3. Stanford (44)
4. Washington State (66)
5. California (68)
6. Oregon State (84)

South

1. USC (16)
2. Utah (26)
3. Arizona State (33)
4. Colorado (59)
5. UCLA (71)
6. Arizona (100)

Utah’s two non-conference FBS opponents this season are BYU (No. 22) and San Diego State (No. 64).

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.

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