First of all, no one is calling them a "national powerhouse". But they do look pretty good this year. And this could very well be the best team Whit has ever coached. Looks true on paper. Time will tell.

Now, has Utah been "fairly average" as a member of the PAC-12? Take off your blue goggles for real. Above average is probably more accurate. Just a few stats that show this (anything #6 and above is above average)...

Since 2001, Utah has appeared in the AP Top 25 rankings 105 times... #4 in the PAC-12.
In the past 5 years, Utah has appeared in the Top 10 rankings 5 times... #5 in the PAC-12.

In the past 12 years, Utah's in-conference win percentage is .571... #4 in the PAC-12.
Total win percentage during that time (including OOC) is .671... #4 in the PAC-12.
And Utah held opponents to 4 touchdowns or less 139 times during that span... #1 in the PAC-12.

In the past 10 years...
Utah has made 9 appearances in the Top 10... #5 in the PAC-12.
Utah allowed 45,854 yards... #1 in the PAC-12.
Opponent pass completion percentage was 56.8... #1 in the PAC-12.
Utah had 64 games holding opponents to 150 yards rushing and 250 yards passing... #1 in the PAC-12.
That was good enough for 6 9-win seasons... #3 in The PAC-12.
Utah won 44 home games... #6 in the PAC-12.
And they had just 2 losing seasons... #5 in the PAC-12.

In the past 4 years...
Utah has appeared in the Top 25 Rankings 34 times... #3 in the PAC-12.
Utah has allowed 109 conference opponent touchdowns... #3 in the PAC-12.
Utah has scored 124 touchdowns against conference opponents... #8 in the PAC-12. <--not great
Utah has 35 total wins. That's good enough for #4 in the PAC-12.
Utah allowed 6217 opponent rushing yards... #1 in the PAC-12.
Utah allowed 5.1 yards per play... #2 in the PAC-12.
Utah's point differential is +180... #5 in the PAC-12.

Utah is also in the top 1/3 in graduation rate and players sent to the NFL.

We could go on...

It's not all good news. They're dead last in passing yards over the past 5 years.
They're 1-9 against Top 25 teams over the past 3 years... #9 in the PAC-12.
They only gained 5.5 total yards per play in the past 10 years... #11 in the PAC-12.
And of course, Utah is a Pepsi school which sucks donkey nuts.

But by most objective measures they are better than "fairly average in the PAC-12".