Week 6 of the college football season is underway, but one of the top teams in the nation will not be playing, the number 18 ranked Utah Utes (4-1). The Utes are on a much-needed open week this week after a 23-10 loss against Arizona last Saturday. They will take this opportunity to rest and recover before they travel to Arizona State for a game next Friday.
Does Utah play today?
No, the Utes do not play today or at all this week. They are on an open week, which means they will stay home to practice and rest. Every team in college football gets a few open weeks throughout the season to help them recover from injuries. The Utes will look to get back in the win column next week against the Sun Devils.
Can Utah make it to the college football playoffs this season?
Yes, the Utes can make the college football playoffs but their loss to Arizona last week has made the road much harder. They sit tied for seventh in the Big 12 with the Kansas State Wildcats (4-1). Both teams have 1-1 in-conference records. Standings are determined by in-conference records, and the overall record is used as a tiebreaker.
In the new 12-team college football playoff format, the four highest-ranked conference champions as determined by the CFP selection committee automatically make the playoffs. The next seven highest-ranked teams, regardless of conference ranking, make the playoffs. The four highest-ranked conference champions earn a bye through the first round of the playoffs.
For Utah to win the Big 12, it will need to make up ground on teams like BYU, Colorado, and Texas Tech that each have perfect 2-0 in-conference records. There are still plenty of in-conference games to play, so that is a possibility. However, the Utes cannot make up ground and will need to win as many games as possible to get one of the seven extra slots.
The best way to rise in the rankings is to win against other ranked opponents. The ranked opponents the Utes still have on the schedule are No. 16 ranked Iowa State, and No. 17 ranked BYU. Both are also in-conference rivals, so winning those games is crucial for Utah's hopes of making the playoffs.
Utah college football schedule 2024
These are the remaining games on the schedule for the Utes:
- October 11th @ Arizona State
- October 19th vs TCU
- October 26th @ Houston
- November 9th vs BYU
- November 16th @ Colorado
- November 23rd vs Iowa State
- November 29th @ UCF
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