Where Utah football ranks in ESPN's first FPI rankings for the 2026 season

ESPN released its initial Football Power Index for the 2026 college football season this week. While the Utah Utes seem to have a positive outlook, there are some noticeable gaps in the analytics.

Utah is expected to be a contender in the Big 12 title race. The three-team race between BYU and Texas Tech will be interesting to watch as it plays out this fall. Morgan Scalley's first season as the Utes head coach should provide a pretty good idea on where the program is headed. Being next up trying to guide a program after Kyle Whittingham's 20 years of success is nearly impossible to replicate. But Scalley is going to try.

ESPN's Football Power Index is a “measure of team strengths that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season. FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is.”

ESPN’s FPI projections have Utah with an 8.5 score. This is good for No. 31 nationally, and third in the Big 12.

Projected wins-7.7

Odds of going undefeated-0.4%

Odds of bowl eligibility- 83.7%

Odds of winning the Big 12-5.9%

Odds of playing in the CFP- 11.1%

Odds of making the national championship game- 0.6%

Odds of winning a national championship- 0.2%

After pulling off an 11-2 record last year, Utah hopes to maintain the same level of success despite a coaching change. Being noted as the third-best team in the conference isn't a shocker. BYU and Texas Tech have earned the right to be there until they fall off.

As it stands right now, the Utes are in a prime position to make that happen. If Utah beats BYU in the Nov. 7 Holy War rivalry match up, they'll gain the upper hand to face Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game. Now, all parties involved need to stay in the race to make that happen. Not to get too far ahead.

Utah's strength of schedule is ranked 63rd overall for next season, and currently in the Big 12's bottom half. Considering this was sixth in the conference last year, this year is a weaker schedule on paper.

Outside the Holy War, Utah must avoid letdowns against Arkansas and Arizona. These are the key match-ups to watch, according to ESPN. Arkansas, which is ranked No. 47 in the FPI, travels to Salt Lake City for a Sept. 12 non-conference affair.

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