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It's still early in the season, but Utah is receiving votes in the AP poll. The sports writers from around the country gave the Utes two votes in the latest poll after a 59-27 rolling of Fresno State.
While some may scoff, saying two small votes are nothing to crow about, that's actually good progress for a team that finished the 2013 season with their second straight 5-7 record. At this point, Utah has 2/5 of the 2013 wins total covered, as well as 1/3 of the wins necessary to make a return appearance in bowl season. The Utes offense is potent, even while the defense still has some question marks remaining (namely secondary and linebacking corps), but the defensive line was much more stout this week, tallying seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss.
Utah has a bye week before making a trip to The Big House to face Michigan, a team coming off a 0-31 blanking at the hands of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Fortunately for the Utes, Michigan gets to release their frustrations on Miami (OH) before facing Utah; however, this is a Michigan team ripe for an upset in their back yard. And the bye week couldn't come at a better time, as Utah can heal a little along the offensive line and in the linebacking corps. Expected to return for the Michigan game is former Miami linebacker, Gionni Paul, which should immediately improve Utah's front seven.
According to the latest AP poll, Utah will be facing five teams ranked in the Top 25, as well as two in the Top 10.
AP Poll:
| AP | Coaches| Sagarin | | |
| 1 | Florida State (38) | Florida State (51) | Oregon |
| 2 | Oregon (16) | Alabama (1) | Georgia |
| 3 | Alabama (1) | Oklahoma (3) |
|
| 4 | Oklahoma (2) | Oregon (6) | Texas A&M |
| 5 | Auburn| Auburn | Auburn | |
| 6 | Georgia (1) | Georgia (1) | LSU |
| 7 | Texas A&M (2) | Baylor| Florida | |
| 8 | Baylor| Texas A&M | Alabama | |
| 9 | USC | LSU | Notre Dame |
| 10 | LSU | USC | UCLA |
| 11 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | Michigan State |
| 12 | UCLA | UCLA | Ohio State |
| 13 | Michigan State | Michigan State | USC |
| 14 | Ole Miss | Arizona State |
|
| 15 |
| Ole Miss | Virginia Tech |
| 16 | Arizona State |
| BYU |
| 17 | Virginia Tech |
| Florida State |
| 18 |
| Ohio State | Ole Miss |
| 19 | Kansas State | Virginia Tech | Arizona |
| 20 |
| Kansas State | Baylor |
| 21 |
|
| TCU |
| 22 | Ohio State |
| UCF |
| 23 | Clemson| South Carolina |
| |
| 24 | South Carolina | Clemson| Kansas State | |
| 25 | BYU | North Carolina |
|
Dropped from Rankings: Nebraska 19, North Carolina 21
Others Receiving Votes: Nebraska 153, North Carolina 118, Oklahoma State 92, Florida 70, Duke 43, Penn State 35, TCU 31, Mississippi State 29, Marshall 18, Tennessee 14, Iowa 10, West Virginia 6, Cincinnati 6, Washington 4, North Dakota State 3, Texas Tech 3, Pittsburgh 3, Utah 2, Arizona 1