Pac-12 Football: Who tops the 2018 preseason power rankings?
By Dana Becker
Kyle Whittingham has quietly transformed Utah in one of the more consistent programs out west. The Utes, though, won just three conference games a year ago, finishing 7-6 and besting West Virginia in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
They are led once more by junior running back Zack Moss, who ran for almost 1,200 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. Tyler Huntley returns for his second season as starting quarterback after throwing for 2,411 yards and 15 scores.
On the defensive side of the ball will be senior Chase Hansen and juniors Julian Blackmon and Bradlee Anae. Utah is also sound in the special teams area with returnees Matt Gay and Mitch Wishnowsky.
Life post-Luke Falk begins this fall for the Cougars and Mike Leach, who went 9-4 last year and finished a game back of Stanford and Washington in the division.
Falk could be replaced by East Carolina transfer Gardner Minshew, who had originally committed to Alabama for his final season before deciding to bring his talents to play for Leach.
Frederick Mauigoa, Jalen Thompson and Peyton Pelluer are all back for the Cougars, who lost to Michigan State in the Holiday Bowl.
Kevin Sumlin makes his debut this fall with the Wildcats after successful runs at Houston and Texas A&M. Sumlin, replacing Rich Rodriguez, will lean on Heisman Trophy contender Khalil Tate. As a sophomore, Tate passed for 1,591 yards and ran for 1,411 to lead the team to a 7-5 record and spot in the Foster Farms Bowl opposite Purdue.
Sumlin will have several starters back along with Tate in J.J. Taylor, Shun Brown, Shawn Poindexter, Tony Ellison and Nathan Tilford on the offensive side of things.
Colin Schooler, Chacho Ulloa, Jarrius Wallace and Demetrious Flannigan-Fowles are all back on defense, and as he always does, Sumlin put together a strong recruiting class.
Much like at Arizona and Arizona State, there is a new man in charge in Chip Kelly at UCLA.
Kelly is familiar with the league after guiding Oregon to new heights before leaving for the NFL. Now, back in college, Kelly takes over after the Bruins went 6-7 last year and placed fourth in the division.
It remains to be seen who will start under center, but Devon Modster has experience, as does Michigan transfer Wilton Speight. The top newcomer is former Bishop Gorman standout Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Whoever wins the job will have key pieces in Theo Howard and Caleb Wilson to work with.