If not, I think 6-6 is likely.

The reason: Beating Utah is a benchmark game to see if the team has overcome some mental and coaching hurdles during the offseason. Losing to them this year, with the talent we have coming back and what they lose, would very likely put on display some deeper problems that weren’t resolved in the offseason.

At the same time, a rivalry win after 9 years of losing would take the senior upperclassmen players stepping up in a big way, and the coaches getting everyone together and on the same page again after a difficult end to last season. A rivalry win would show to me that we have taken a big step forward. And, if the leaders are stepping up to lead a win against Utah, I don’t think those same players would tolerate letdowns as we’ve had in the past.

Just my thoughts. I’d like to predict a win against Utah, but I’d rather not go on the record about that game at this point. More than ever, I think the Utah game is the litmus test this season. The team needs that game.