Kyle Whittingham embracing the pressure of being Big 12 favorite

LAS VEGAS — Although he’s one of the longest-tenured coaches in the country, with 18-plus seasons at Utah, his team is approaching uncharted territory in the expanded Big 12.

After all, the Utes are projected as the clear-cut favorites to win the conference after the Preseason Media Poll was released last week. Coach Kyle Whittingham understands what comes with the territory of being the top dog though. Now that the Utes have a huge bullseye on their backs because of the recognition, Whittingham knows he’s going to get the best from every team.

He’s flattered that the program is being praised on a national level, which is a reminder of how far Utah has come over the past decade.

“I think that’s a show of respect to our players and coaches that have done a great job competing through the years that the media has selected us number one,” he said. “But in the final analysis, that doesn’t mean anything, obviously you’ve got to play the games, and our players are fully aware of that.”

Whittingham is no stranger to joining a new conference either. As a matter of fact, the Big 12 will be the fourth conference that Utah has joined in Whittingham’s tenure. Not to mention Whittingham’s experience in the WAC, Mountain West and Pac-12 has made him evolve with the times.

The Big 12 will present some different challenges though, with the speed, style of play and coaching. Which is why Whittingham is preparing to adjust on the fly.

“It’s a transition we made before,” he said. “Although when we went to the Pac-12, we were a G5 school, trying to come up a level, which there was a little bit of a curve there that we had to endure.”

Utah has a roster full of talent, experience and leadership. The players know how to win, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that everyone is anticipating them to make a splash in the Big 12. Recruiting and utilizing the transfer portal has helped Whittingham up to this point.

“If you recruit the right players and get the right players in your program that fit into your culture, fit into what you’re doing, then you’ve got a chance,” the 64-year old coach said. “Our assistant coaches have done a phenomenal job of identifying those players.”

Quarterback Cam Rising is back fully healthy after missing the entire 2023 season. He brings instant credibility behind center, considering Rising led the Utes to two Pac-12 Titles. Morgan Scalley, who’s Whittingham’s right hand man, will be fielding yet another stifling defense.

Junior Tafuna is one of the meanest defensive tackles in the country, and will anchor the unit up front. Whittingham is known for being a special teams guru too, and that’s another ingredient to his recipe for success.

Everyone respects Whittingham’s longevity, and he’s arguably the best at doing more with less. The schedule sets up nicely, considering the Utes won’t have to leave the state of Utah through the first three games. Playing Oklahoma State, Colorado, Arizona State and UCF on the road won’t be easy, but is still manageable.

Regardless of the matter, the Big 12 is full of parity, and Utah will have a slimmer margin for error. Now that the stakes are higher, Whittingham knows he has to get his players to perform up to their potential. It’s no mystery that several Utes have been drafted under Whittingham’s leadership because of his knack for development.

Still, being the hunted instead of the hunters means every opponent will be looking to upset Utah. At the end of the day, Whittingham remains confident with the team he’s assembling, and can’t wait to unleash them on the Big 12 this fall.

“We feel like we’ve got a roster that’s equipped to compete right away.”