As if we're surprised, today the Mountain West Conference released its preseason media poll and Utah is picked to finish 2nd behind the two-time defending champion BYU Cougars. The Utes received 5 first place votes to the Cougars' 29 with 274 points total. Utah and BYU were the only two schools receiving first place votes, while TCU was picked to finish 3rd and New Mexico 4th.
Last season, Utah tied for 3rd place after finishing 5-3. However, 2 of those 3 losses came in back-to-back conference games at the start of the year and it wasn't until their conference finale against BYU that they recorded their 3rd loss. Under Kyle Whittingham, Utah has finished 4-4, 5-3 and 5-3 in Mountain West play and have not placed better than 3rd. Utah is hoping, obviously, that changes this year.
Here are the official Mountain West media day picks:
| Rank | Team (first place votes) | Points |
| 1. | Brigham Young (29) | 299 |
| 2. | Utah (5) | 274 |
| 3. | Texas Christian | 239 |
| 4. | New Mexico | 197 |
| 5. | Wyoming | 156 |
| 6. | Air Force | 141 |
| 7. | San Diego State | 92 |
| 8. | Colorado State | 73 |
| 9. | Nevada Las Vegas | 59 |