Utah football 2019 season preview: Best and worst-case scenario

Utah football has a very real opportunity ahead of them to make some noise in a wide-open Pac-12 South. Is 2019 the year the Utes come out on top?

The Pac-12 was chaos in 2018. Well, to be perfectly fair, it’s chaos just about each and every season. However, last season seemed even more chaotic than usual. This coming season could be the same way. Could that lead to Kyle Wittingham and the Utah football team climbing to the top of the pack in the Pac-12?

In 2018, the Utes went 9-5 in a season that felt like they were on the cusp of reaching greatness. Headed into 2019, there are very few personnel changes that have been made. Utah utilized two quarterbacks last season and Tyler Huntley and Jason Shelley combined for 2,950 yards, 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Add in the fact that almost every wide receiver from last season returns this year and there’s a good chance that Utah’s passing game improves notably this coming season.

But Wittingham won’t rely exclusively on Utah’s passing attack to win most games in 2019.

The Utes will, more than likely, grind opponents down with a solid rushing attack and a stout defense. That rushing attack will be built around Zach Moss, who ran for 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2018. That defense will be anchored by a defensive line featuring Bradlee Anae and John Penisini, who combined for 9.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss in 2018.

Utah did lose some key players off

Utah football best-case scenario

• Aug. 29 – at BYU – W
• Sept. 7 – vs. Northern Illinois – W
• Sept. 14 – vs. Idaho State – W
• Sept. 20 – at USC – W
• Sept. 28 – vs. Washington State – W
• Oct. 12 – at Oregon State – W
• Oct. 19 – vs. Arizona State – W
• Oct. 26 – vs. California – W
• Nov. 9 – at Washington – L
• Nov. 16 – vs. UCLA – W
• Nov. 23 – at Arizona – W
• Nov. 30 – vs. Colorado – W

Record: 11-1 (8-1 Pac-12)

There’s a realistic path for the Utah Utes to run through their schedule virtually unscathed. Starting off the year with a road trip to BYU could prove to be tricky given that it’s a rivalry game, but it’s unlikely that the Utes are challenged until they head out to Los Angeles.

An early-season road test against the University of Southern California will be crucial for both teams as USC looks to regain dominance in a division it once routinely controlled while Utah looks to continue to elevate itself.

Outside of those two contests, in the best-case scenario, Utah won’t be challenged much as the year begins. The first half of the season should prove to be relatively easy if the Utes are firing on all cylinders on offense and the defense is stifling its foes.

And the second half of the season may not be much different if everything is clicking for Wittingham’s team.

Still, it’s hard to see the Utes coming out on top when they travel to Seattle to face the Washington Huskies. But other than that, in the best-case scenario, Utah wins plenty throughout the season and would have a possible chance at redemption against Washington in the Pac-12 title game.

The worst-case scenario is a bit rougher.

Utah football worst-case scenario

Aug. 29 – at BYU – W
Sept. 7 – vs. Northern Illinois – W
Sept. 14 – vs. Idaho State – W
Sept. 20 – at USC – L
Sept. 28 – vs. Washington State – L
Oct. 12 – at Oregon State – W
Oct. 19 – vs. Arizona State – W
Oct. 26 – vs. California – W
Nov. 9 – at Washington – L
Nov. 16 – vs. UCLA – W
Nov. 23 – at Arizona – L
Nov. 30 – vs. Colorado – W

Record: 8-4 (5-4 Pac-12)

If Utah’s offense doesn’t improve any and its defense takes a step back, then it’s highly unlikely that Wittingham and his team take the step forward as a program that Utah fans would be hoping for.

An early road trip to USC could realistically end in a loss for Utah if the Trojans have improved any on offense from a season ago. That sort of loss, in theory, could send Utah into a small spiral and turn their game at home against Washington State into another loss early in the season.

The Utes should be able to bounce back and win several games down the stretch, turning their season around. But a road trip to Washington could end in defeat if Wittingham’s offense is no better than it was a season ago. That trip to Arizona could end poorly if Wittingham’s defense isn’t as good as it was a season ago.