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It's hard to believe that almost eight months have passed since the University of Utah football team was busy blasting Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
But time goes fast when you're having fun — and sometimes even when you're not — and another college football season is suddenly upon us.
And as much as I hate to put a damper on anyone's plans for a downtown parade next January, it seems awfully unlikely that there will be any unbeaten, BCS-busting teams coming out of the Beehive State this season.
That's not to say, however, that there won't be some great football played by each of the state's "Big Five" schools this year, because there definitely will be.
Utah, BYU and Weber State are all expected to enjoy a strong measure of success again this season, while Utah State and Southern Utah should both be improved from where they finished in 2008.
When it comes to football, there's always a lot of blood, sweat and tears that are shed by every successful program. And this year, you can add SPIT — Scheduling, Personnel, Injuries and Talent — to that mix of vital bodily fluids as well. Indeed, more than anything else, those four factors may hold the key to each school's football fortunes in 2009.
And while making predictions is often a great way to open one's mouth and stick a pair of size-12 sneakers in it, here's a bold "Big Five" forecast for this year:
BYU: With quarterback Max Hall, running back Harvey Unga, tight end Dennis Pitta and defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen, the Cougars have plenty of talent on their side. However, they've had so many players go down with injuries during fall camp that they may have to change their initials to "BYH" — Boy, You're Hurting.
But after their difficult season-opening duel with Oklahoma, the Cougars' schedule is as kind as a missionary to them the rest of the way, with their other toughest opponents — Florida State, Colorado State, TCU, Air Force and Utah — all coming to LaVell Edwards Stadium, where the Cougars have piled up 18 straight wins. If BYU can avoid being bitten too much more by the injury bug, it should be a stellar season in Cougartown.
Predicted finish: 10-2.
UTAH: The schedule that worked so well in the Utes' favor last season — tough home games against Oregon State, TCU and BYU — turns against them this time around. They have to play the Horned Frogs and the Cougars, along with Pac-10 opponent Oregon, on the road this year.
And as strong as Utah's program has become, with two unbeaten, BCS-busting seasons in the last five years, a repeat performance seems far too much to ask in 2009.
Predicted finish: 9-3.
UTAH STATE: The Aggies haven't had a winning season since 1996, or a non-losing season since '97, when they went 6-6. Heck, the last time they won more than three games came back in 2002 (4-7).
So they have turned their program's reins over to Gary Andersen, the former Utah defensive coordinator, who certainly seems like the guy who can get this done and turn it around. But with road games at Utah, Texas A&M, BYU, Fresno State and Hawaii, it certainly won't happen overnight.
Predicted finish: 5-7.
WEBER STATE: The Wildcats have plenty of playmakers — quarterback Cameron Higgins, running back Trevyn Smith, wide receiver Tim Toone and safety Beau Hadley — back from last year's ballclub that went 10-4, won a share of the Big Sky title and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs.
But with road games against Mountain West Conference foes Wyoming and Colorado State, along with Big Sky foes Portland State, Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado and preseason favorite Montana, double-digit wins seem highly unlikely.
Predicted finish: 8-3.
SOUTHERN UTAH: Coming off a 4-7 campaign, the Thunderbirds aim to fly a lot higher this season. But their schedule will make that goal difficult, with road games against San Diego State, Northern Arizona, Utah State and Cal Poly looming like huge roadblocks to success.
Predicted finish: 4-7.
e-mail: rhollis@desnews.com