The Pro Football Focus preseason media poll tossed a curveball at the University of Utah.
While PFF slots the Utes at No. 20, the Associated Press preseason Top 25 overlooked them entirely, as the group became one of just three such teams in that unusual divide, alongside Louisville (No. 18 on PFF) and Auburn (No. 25).
The AP’s preseason rankings, finalized on Monday, show Utah among the “others receiving votes,” tallying 144 points and landing just outside the poll at an unofficial No. 27. Auburn finds itself similarly snubbed, marking a fifth straight year without an AP preseason ranking. Louisville, meanwhile, also missed the cut despite being No. 18 in PFF’s estimation.
This split in perception isn’t mere curiosity; it highlights how prestige and conference alignment continue to sway early-season expectations. The AP poll displays heavy representation from the SEC and Big Ten, making Utah’s absence especially glaring given its Big 12 positioning.
Why does it matter for the Utes? Momentum. Rankings influence narrative, bowl projections, and national attention. Utah’s exclusion, paired with PFF’s bullish assessment, sets an intriguing early-season subplot: Can the Utes translate preseason confidence into tangible on-field validation?
With the Big 12 landscape heating up, Utah’s altitude might just give it an edge. But the team will have to knock down the doubters and climb back into the poll, not merely in preseason projections, but when the final votes are cast.
