Iowa State is going to be in the mix and if Kansas can keep Jalon Daniels healthy, they will be there also. I think you can put a blanket over 5 to 6 teams at this point and just see who separates during the season.
No one really has a gauntlet like we saw in the PAC the last 2 years so it may come down to tie-breakers to even get into the game.
If we don’t make that game and if we don’t win that game, 2024 will be a failed season. It’s CFP or bust this year with all we have coming back.There’s no more being the underdog or playing with a chip on our shoulders from being disrespected. Utah has to jump into its new role as the flagship program of the conference. The team has to go into every game knowing they’re everyone’s biggest game on their schedule with the bullseye squarely on Utah’s backs.Time to take the next step forward in the program’s evolution. Go Utes!!!
On paper I’d go with Oklahoma State as they have the advantage playing Utah at home when they meet in September. That said, it is OkState and Ok State has a tendency to get up for big games, like vs Oklahoma, then lay an egg vs weaker competition, witness South Alabama, Iowa State and UCF in 2023. Two of those bad games were in September so maybe its good that the Utes meet OkState early.