A whopping six teams from the Pac-12 enter the 2015 college football season ranked in the AP Top 25 poll, but one publication feels the unranked University of Utah could be the conference’s most intriguing squad.
In a list from ESPN.com of the top 10 conference matchups on the schedule this fall, all nine of the Utes’ contests make the list.
No, Kyle Whittingham’s team doesn’t hog all but one spot, but the 10th slot simply says “Utah versus … everyone.”
“With no natural rival, Utah is this year’s X factor,” writes Kevin Gemmell. “… Utah is the toughest team in the league to get a bead on. The Utes could finish first or fifth in the South, and neither would be surprising.”
Sarkisian apologizes
Three days after spilling profanities while intoxicated at a booster event, USC head football coach and former BYU quarterback Steve Sarkisian addressed the situation with the media Tuesday in a conference that lasted just over eight minutes.
Sarkisian apologized for the embarrassment he caused, saying he regrets mixing medication and alcohol.
“There are things that we’re going to work on for me moving forward, but it’s a hard time,” he said. “It’s a hard time. I truly believe in myself as a coach, I truly believe in myself as a coach to lead this team and to be the best coach for this team to win a championship.”
Utah's Lions banged up
The Detroit Lions’ defense was once again expected to be an item to follow this fall in Utah, as multiple key players have connections with the state.
Injuries are keeping them off the field, however. On Tuesday, head coach Jim Caldwell said former BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy will miss significant time with an undisclosed injury. Additionally, Van Noy’s college teammate Ezekiel Ansah is nursing a bum ankle. Finally, a story Wednesday from Bob Wojnowski chronicled former Highland High star Haloti Ngata’s battle with a hamstring injury.
Wojnowski noted Ngata did some work with trainers on Tuesday, but whether or not he will play in Detroit’s final two preseason games is unclear.
“You don’t want to rush it, because if you tweak it, then it’s tweaked all season,” Ngata said. “We’re trying to figure out when would be the time to come in. We’re just making sure I’m 100 percent before I do.”
Ryan McDonald is a sports reporter at DeseretNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanwmcdonald.