Greg McElroy Names Big 12 College Football Playoff Contender For 2024

The Utah Utes, Colorado Buffaloes, Arizona State Sun Devils, and Arizona Wildcats left the remnants of the Pac-12 this offseason and joined the Big 12. The Oregon Ducks, Washington Huskies, USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins, California Golden Bears, and Stanford Cardinal also left the conference this offseason.

On a recent episode of "Always College Football," Greg McElroy picked Utah as the team from the Big 12 that he thought could make the College Football Playoff if the Utes win the conference this season.

"...Had the 12-team playoff been in existence, the 2019 team would have gotten in as an at-large, and 2021 and 2022 would have both gotten in with the first-round bye," McElroy said. "So this is a team that's been close. I think they break through potentially, if they can win the new Big 12."

Utah had various casts of characters play quarterback last season, with Cam Rising recovering from a knee injury he suffered during the 2023 Rose Bowl. Rising had to use a medical redshirt in 2023 due to the injury.

Last season, the Utes mainly used Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson as quarterback instead of Rising. Barnes saw most of the time under center and recorded 1,572 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Barnes has since transferred to the Utah State Aggies, while Johnson is now with the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Utah highlighted its 2024 recruiting class with recruits like former four-star quarterback Isaac Wilson and former four-star inside offensive lineman Isaiah Garcia . The Utes also added critical transfer commits from players like former Arizona and USC wideout Dorian Singer and former Stanford safety Alaka'i Gilman.

Utah opens the 2024 season against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds on Aug. 29.

Related: Kirk Herbstreit's Three-Word Response To Nick Saban's ESPY Speech Says It All