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The Utes suffered a blow on Tuesday when sophomore Kari Lee tore her Achilles' tendon in practice.
Lee is the only gymnast for Utah (3-0, 1-0) competing in the all-around this year and was expected to be a leader after her breakout freshman season.
Lee, from Peoria, Ariz., was a first-team All-American on the vault and floor in 2015 and a second-team regular season All-American on beam.
Coach Megan Marsden said she felt Lee was finding her form, noting she scored a 9.9 on the beam against SUU and had earned a spot in the uneven bars lineup.
"It would be silly of me to downplay this given the freshman year she had," Marsden said. "No question Kari's upside is championship material. She was getting better each week and I felt like she was getting on track with her floor routine."
Lee suffered the injury on the floor as she pushed off to start a tumbling pass. Lee will have surgery on Friday. The seventh-ranked Utes next host No. 20 Arizona on Monday at 6 p.m.
The Utes have had a rash of the injuries; Corrie Lothrop tore her Achilles in 2013, Kassandra Lopez tore hers in 2014 and Tory Wilson tore hers in 2015.
"The thing with these injuries is there is no indication," Marsden said. "It's not something that you can re-vamp things or adjust if they are hurting. It just doesn't seem fair."
Her absence will be felt the most on the balance beam, where she is a one of the steadiest performers.
"She is a natural on that event and, in the words of a lot of people, she floats across the beam," Marsden said. "She is so comfortable up there. We have others waiting in the wings, but I don't know if I have a ringer like Kari was."