College Football Playoff Rankings 2022: Final Top 25 projections

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Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Utes running back Micah Bernard (2) celebrates after scoring on a 23-yard touchdown run in the second half of the Pac-12 Championship against the Southern California Trojans at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

I don’t know why I do this every year. I don’t know why I continue to doubt Kyle Whittingham and the Utah football program. It’s made me look silly in the past and I just assumed after a season-opening loss to Florida after winning the Pac-12 title last year that the Utes were coming back down to earth.

I was wrong.

Utah responded to that season-opening loss to the Gators by reeling off 10 wins in its next 12 contests, including the Pac-12 title game against USC. The Utes beat USC for a second time this season which happen to be the Trojans’ only losses in the Lincoln Riley era.

It’s time to give Utah some respect and the playoff committee will agree to that sentiment, ranking the Utes ahead of the Trojans this week.

Winning against a top-four team is one thing, but dismantling them to the tune of 47-24 is another. No one gave Utah a shot and when it was down 17-3, it felt as if the game was over. But that wasn’t the case as Utah went on a 44-7 run.

The Utes are headed to the New Year’s Six yet again.

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