In his 19 full seasons in charge at Utah, Kyle Whittingham has missed a bowl game just three times. He has just as many conference championships during his time with the Utes.

That’s what makes last season — one of those three full seasons with fewer than six wins — so surprising.

Utah was the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 in the program’s first season in the conference. But injuries and constant quarterback change led to an inconsistent offense and seven straight losses after a 4-0 start and a rare disappointing season for a team that has already made two Rose Bowl appearances this decade.

Deion Sanders and Colorado handed the Utes one of those seven defeats — a 49-24 thrashing at Folsom Field that all but cemented Travis Hunter as the Heisman Trophy winner — and this year the Buffaloes will head to Salt Lake City on Oct. 25 for a clash that could be much more consequential than any of the recent meetings between the two programs.

Here’s what to know about this year’s Utah Utes:

Offseason storylines

The changes began long before the season was over in Salt Lake City.

Veteran offensive coordinator Andy Ludwid (who had held the position since 2019) stepped down in October amid struggles to score at the start of Big 12 play. Things didn’t get much better under interim coordinator Mike Bajakian as the Utes finished the season with the second-worst total offense and third-worst scoring offense in the conference.

It didn’t help that Cam Rising’s season never really got going due to injuries and his replacements weren’t consistent enough to cement themselves as the future at quarterback.

Utah quickly found what it believes to be the solution to its offensive woes after the end of the season, hiring New Mexico offensive coordinator Jason Beck, who guided the Mountain West’s top total offense in his lone season with the Lobos. A former BYU quarterback, he’s spent much of his coaching career working under Bronco Mendehall, who left New Mexico this offseason to become the head coach at Utah State.

With Beck comes a new face of the program, if you will, in quarterback Devon Dampier.

In two years at New Mexico, Dampier showed off how dynamic of a playmaker he can be under center. He appeared in 21 games as a freshman and sophomore, but really blossomed last season under Beck, leading the Mountain West in total offense as he threw for nearly 2,800 passing yards while also rushing for over 1,100 yards to go with 31 total touchdowns.

Dampier was impossible to bring down last year, despite facing constant pressure and his legs could become even more of a weapon behind a loaded offensive line.

On offense

Like all great Utah teams, the conversation starts with the offensive line. The Utes have not one, but two projected first round NFL draft picks up front in left tackle Caleb Lomu and right tackle Spencer Fano. In between them are three veteran players with plenty of experience and that combination gives Beck arguably the best offensive line in the Big 12 to work with.

That’s music to the ears of someone who has shown an ability to scheme up explosive run games. He’ll do so with Dampier and Washington State transfer running back Wayshawn Parker behind that standout o-line.

Parker is just a sophomore but already showed his playmaking abilities as a true freshman last season in Pullman, rushing for over 700 yards and four touchdowns across appearances in 12 games (seven starts).

On the outside, Utah has a new-look receiving corps that is largely unproven but not without promise. Another New Mexico transfer, wide receiver Ryan Davis, could be a top target after he had the best season of his collegiate career with the Lobos in 2024.

On defense

Despite the overall record, defense wasn’t an issue at any point in 2024.

Whittingham and defensive coordinator/head-coach-in-waiting Morgan Scalley have had a great working relationship for nearly two decades and that duo has consistently churned out some of the best defenses in the country.

Utah ranked second in the Big 12 in scoring defense and third in total defense last fall. That unit was also efficient in the red zone and on third down.

The Utes return their top two tackles in linebacker Lander Barton and safety Tao Johnson, both of whom could be preseason All-Big 12 players. Multiple starters also return on the defensive line and at cornerback. This unit should rank near the top of the conference once again this season.

The Utah Utes file

2024 record: 5-7 (2-7 Big 12)

Head coach: Kyle Whittingham (21st season, 167–86 record)

Offensive coordinator: Jason Beck (1st season)

Defensive coordinator: Morgan Scalley (18th at Utah, 10th as DC)

Key returners: OT Spencer Fano, OT Caleb Lomu, LB Lander Barton, S Tao Johnson, CB Smith Snowden, CB Elijah Davis

Key newcomers: QB Devon Dampier, RB Wayshawn Parker, WR Ryan Davis, CB Blake Cotton