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There was a minor stir last week when Utah fans discovered the calendar in the latest issue of Popular Mechanics.
On Sept. 3, it heralds the beginning of the college football season, "with the University of Michigan in a cupcake game against Utah."
"A CUPCAKE GAME?!"
(Said fans.)
That's right.
(Said nobody.)
Anyone paying attention last year saw the Utes beat Michigan in the Big House and No. 8 UCLA at the Rose Bowl. They saw Travis Wilson spring to life in the closing moments to prevail over No. 20 USC and Stanford. They saw the vast gulf in talent and depth between Utah and Colorado State in the Las Vegas Bowl.
But the Utes will play up the magazine's slight as typical of the respect they receive — even if that's not totally accurate.
Pac-12 media may have picked the Utes to finish fifth in the Pac-12 South for the fourth straight season, but the teams picked ahead of them are ranked in the AP's preseason Top 25: No. 8 USC, No. 13 UCLA, No. 15 Arizona State and No. 22 Arizona.
Wrote Fox Sports' Stewart Mandel: "I'm higher on Utah than its predicted 7-5 record reflects, but someone's got to finish fifth."
Wrote Sports Illustrated's Lindsay Schnell: "USC, UCLA, Arizona and Arizona State all have the pieces to win. Utah shouldn't be counted out either."
And wrote ESPN's David Lombardi: "The Pac-12 South is the ultimate toss-up, and the Utes proved good enough to beat anyone in the division last year."
There are few people covering college football who believe Utah is a cupcake.
But that's not to say there are not doubts about these Utes.
Utah led the nation in sacks last year, but 18.5 of those 55 came from Nate Orchard, now with the Cleveland Browns. Utah ranked second in the nation in special-teams efficiency, per ESPN's metrics, but that's due in part to four return touchdowns from Kaelin Clay, now with Tampa Bay.
What's more, the tandem of Jim Harding and Aaron Roderick will be Utah's eighth offensive coordinatorship in eight years, and senior quarterbacks Wilson and Kendal Thompson struggled for quarters, halves and whole games in 2014, as did their receivers.
Lastly, as much as it was clear that Utah could go toe-to-toe with the Pac-12's elite last year, it was also clear that few wins are likely to come easily for a team that plays grind-it-out, clock-control, field-position football.
Utah went 5-2 last year in Pac-12 games decided by a touchdown or less, which can be used to prove either that the Utes physically wore down their opponents, or that they got lucky.
That all said, this year's defense may be the deepest ever, particularly in the front seven. Senior linebackers Jared Norris and Gionni Paul and junior defensive end Hunter Dimick have carried forth Orchard's no-nonsense example, and junior college transfer cornerback Cory Butler-Byrd seems to have somewhat filled the void left by Dominique Hatfield's dismissal.
The kicking game, with Ray Guy winner Tom Hackett and Lou Groza semifinalist Andy Phillips, is in excellent health.
On offense, coaches expect Devontae Booker to improve on his 1,512 yards rushing and 306 yards receiving, with Whittingham saying Booker's game carries could hit the upper-30s behind an offensive line that excels at run blocking.
If Wilson or Thompson can stretch the defense vertically with downfield completions to wideout Kenneth Scott and others, life gets easier for Booker and the defense.
Then, maybe, the Utes can say they were underrated.
They won't have shocked the world, maybe, but at least they'll have shocked the editor of Popular Mechanics' September calendar.
Twitter: @matthew_piper The Utes will succeed if ...
The front seven can get pressure without Nate Orchard, Travis Wilson completes a higher percentage of his passes and punishes teams for stacking the box to stop Devontae Booker —and if Utah finds the resolve it showed last year after dropping a 28-27 heartbreaker to Washington State and still grinding out five one-score conference wins.
The Utes won't succeed if ...
The ball bounces the other way. Utah is deeper than it has ever been, coach Kyle Whittingham says, so injuries may not be the season-spoilers they have been in the past. But the schedule presents a half-dozen opponents who can beat any team on a good day, and Utah probably needs to at least break even in the luck department to replicate 2014 success.
The bottom line is ...
Beat Michigan, Utah State and Fresno State, and they'll head into Autzen as a top-20 team. Beat Cal and Arizona State, and they'll visit the Coliseum with a chance to take the driver's seat in the South race. They have the experience and depth to conceivably pull it off. Without a marked improvement on offense, though, it might be wishful thinking to expect a sustained run at the Pac-12 title. Utah schedule
Sept. 3 Michigan 6:30 p.m.
TV: FOX Sports 1
Utes might be ranked if they can spoil Jim Harbaugh's debut
Sept. 11 Utah St. 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN 2
Utah has won 21 of 24 against the Aggies but split the past two in thrillers
Sept. 19 at Fresno St. 8:30 p.m.
TV: CBS Sports Network
Tall order for Bulldogs, who host U. after visiting No. 17 Ole Miss
Sept. 26 at Oregon TBA
TV: TBD
Deeper Ducks thrived during the fourth quarter in last year's 51-27 victory
Oct. 10 California TBA
TV: TBD
After a two-year break in the series, Bears are on the upswing under Sonny Dykes
Oct. 17 Arizona St. TBA
TV: TBD
Sun Devils have beaten Utah in 11 straight — 1973 is the last U. win in SLC
Oct. 24 at USC TBA
TV: TBD
Trojans will be out for revenge after Travis Wilson's 73-yard game-winning drive last year
Oct. 31 Oregon St. TBA
TV: TBD
Familiar faces provide drama, even if Utah will likely be heavy favorites
Nov. 7 at Washington TBA
TV: TBD
The Huskies are 8-0 against the Utes, but it may be a down year for UW
Nov. 14 at Arizona TBA
TV: TBD
Only team to dominate Utah wire-to-wire in '14. Can U. stop the 'Cat attack?
Nov. 21 UCLA TBA
TV: TBD
All but five Bruin starters return from the team Utah stunned in Pasadena
Nov. 28 Colorado TBA
TV: TBD
U. has beaten the South cellar dwellers in three straight, but it's been close Utah two-deep
Offense
QB Travis Wilson, Sr., 6-7, 233 Kendal Thompson, Sr., 6-2, 195
RB Devontae Booker, Sr., 5-11, 212 Joe Williams, Jr., 5-11, 200
WR Kenneth Scott, Sr., 6-3, 208 Siaosi Wilson, Fr., 6-2, 189
W Bubba Poole, Sr., 6-1, 197 OR Britain Covey, Fr., 5-8, 166
WR Tim Patrick, Sr., 6-5, 208 Tyrone Smith, Fr., 6-4, 188
TE Siale Fakailoatonga, Jr., 6-4, 254 OR Evan Moeai, Sr., 6-2, 235
LT Sam Tevi, Jr., 6-5, 300 Jackson Barton, RS Fr., 6-6, 310
LG Isaac Asiata, Jr., 6-4, 315 Lo Falemaka, So., 6-4, 305
C Siaosi Aiono, Sr., 6-2, 310 Hiva Lutui, Jr., 6-1, 295
RG Salesi Uhatafe, So., 6-4, 315 Nick Nowakowski, Jr., 6-1, 295
RT J.J. Dielman, Jr., 6-5, 300 Andrew Albers, Sr., 6-7, 305
Special teams
K Andy Phillips, Jr., 5-10, 210 Jon Halliday, Sr., 6-0, 193
KR Cory Butler, Jr., 5-10, 175 OR Britain Covey, Fr., 5-8, 166
Defense
DE Hunter Dimick, Jr., 6-3, 270 Kylie Fitts, Jr., 6-4, 268
DT Lowell Lotulelei, So., 6-2, 302 Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, Jr., 6-1, 320
DT Filipo Mokofisi, So., 6-3, 285 Viliseni Fauonuku, Sr., 5-11, 285
DE Jason Fanaika, Sr., 6-3, 270 Pita Tauomoepenu, Jr., 6-1, 240
LB Jason Whittingham, Sr., 6-2, 245 Christian Drews, So., 6-1, 233
LB Jared Norris, Sr., 6-2, 240 Sunia Tauteoli, So., 6-0, 228
LB Gionni Paul, Sr., 5-10, 225 Uaea Masina, So., 6-3, 230
CB Reginald Porter, Jr., 5-11, 184 Brian Allen, Jr., 6-3, 200
CB Cory Butler-Byrd, Jr., 5-10, 175 Brian Allen, Jr., 6-3, 200
FS Marcus Williams, So., 6-0, 190 Jason Thompson, Jr., 6-1, 215
SS Tevin Carter, Sr., 6-1, 215 Andre Godfrey, So., 5-10, 190
Special teams
P Tom Hackett, Sr., 5-11, 195 Chris Van Orden, Sr., 6-1, 206
LS Chase Dominguez, Jr., 6-5, 232 Harrison Handley, So., 6-5, 245
PR Britain Covey, Fr., 5-8, 166 Boobie Hobbs, So., 5-10, 175