ESPN analyst knows who Utah football will face off with in Big 12 title game
With Week 0 in the books, it’s officially time to turn attention to Utah football’s regular season and how everything is going to play out. In that regard, most analysts believe Kyle Whittingham’s team will win the Big 12 championship.
Of course, in order to do that, they need to not only overcome a new conference, but also win the conference title game. And now, one analyst believes he knows who the Utes will face off against on their way to the College Football Playoffs.
Greg McElroy has always been outspoken about his preseason picks and this year's Big 12 race was no exception. On his show "Always College Football," the ESPN college football analyst revealed his predictions for the conference championships. Including Utah football vs Oklahoma State.
Utah football to take on old school Big 12 team in championship game
McElroy believes both the Utes and Cowboys finish the 2024 campaign 7-2 in the conference. The pair edge out Kansas and Kansas State, who McElroy expects to finish 6-3.
In McElroy’s prediction, Utah will win the Big 12 Championship and secure a spot in the College Football Playoff in their inaugural season in the conference. The former Alabama quarterback highlighted the Utes’ offensive transformation as a key factor in their run to the postseason.
Traditionally known for their physical ground game, the Utes are expected to enhance their passing attack this season with the return of quarterback Cam Rising. McElroy noted that Rising’s experience and Utah’s improvements in their receiving corps will give the Utes the upper hand in a league that often favors physical play.
Of course, while its all well and good to have this kind of confidence in the team from analysts, it’s almost time to back up all the talk. They’re going to need to get off to a good start when they square off against Southern Utah.
Granted, that’s far from the toughest start of the season. Though Utah football will get tested soon enough. Whittingham’s squad starts squaring off against new Big 12 rivals in their second week of the season as they’ll host Baylor on September 7.