Utah
Will the Utah Utes win the Big 12 in 2025?
With just about three months to go until the 2025-26 college football season, a clear-cut favorite to win the Big 12 title at this stage of the offseason has yet to emerge.
It might just be that the league isn’t as top-heavy as some of the other power conferences around the country. Even then, parity should make for an intriguing conference championship race to monitor all throughout the regular season.
According to nationally-acclaimed analyst Phil Steele, the Big 12 could see a three-way tie atop the league’s standings. Utah, Baylor and Iowa State are projected to share the league’s regular season title in Steele’s preview of the conference, followed by Arizona State, Texas Tech and Kansas State in a tie for second place.
Steele has the Utes’ offensive line ranked No. 1 in the league, with three of its members featured on his all-conference teams. Spencer Fano is listed on Steele’s All-Big 12 First team as expected, while Caleb Lomu appears on the second team and Tanoa Togiai on the fourth team.
The Utes have another four on the defensive side of the ball mentioned on Steele’s All-Big 12 teams, including Landon Barton, Logan Fano, Dallas Vakalahi and Smith Snowden. Utah’s defensive units have received high praise from Steele, with its linebacker corps ranking No. 1 and its defensive line and defensive backs coming in at No. 3, respectively, among the Big 12’s other units.
Notably, Utah’s skill position groups weren’t as highly rated in Steele’s preview. The Utes’ running back room is ranked No. 10 in the Big 12 by Steele, while their wide receivers come in at No. 12. Utah’s quarterback room, headlined by New Mexico transfer Devon Dampier, is ranked as the fourth-best in the Big 12.
It’s anyone’s guess as to how the Big 12 will shake out in 2025. ESPN’s FPI projects Kansas State finishes atop the standings, with Arizona State, BYU, Kansas and TCU rounding out the top five. Granted, the FPI’s win projection totals aren’t separated by much — BYU, Kansas, TCU and Baylor all fall in the 8-9 win range.
In a year without a dominant preseason favorite to win the Big 12, perhaps an opportunity to rise to the top is upon the Utes this upcoming season.
MORE UTAH NEWS & ANALYSIS
KANOSH, Utah — The United States Geological Survey recorded multiple earthquakes near Kanosh Sunday morning, each of them having an average magnitude of 3.0.
The first earthquake, magnitude 3.0, was detected just after 12:30 a.m., with the epicenter located half a mile south of Kanarraville.
The second quake, magnitude 3.2, was detected around 5:45 a.m., with the epicenter nearly five miles south-southwest of Kanosh. This was followed by two more quakes in the same area, a magnitude 2.5 quake coming in around 6:35 a.m., followed by a third around 7:45 a.m, which measured at magnitude 3.3.
This has since been followed by another quake, measuring at magnitude 3.7, being detected around 8:45 a.m. The geographic location in the USGS report places the epicenter approximately over two miles south of the Dry Wash Trail, about six miles south-southwest of Kanosh.
FOX 13 News previously spoke with researchers at University of Utah, who said that earthquake swarms are relatively common. A study published in 2023 posits that swarms may be triggered by geothermal activity. The findings came after a series of seismic swarms were detected in central Utah, within the vicinity of three geothermal power plants.
The study also says that the swarms fall into a different category than aftershocks that typically follow large quakes, such as the magnitude 5.7 earthquake that hit the Wasatch Fault back in 2020.
Utah
Embattled Utah Rep. Trevor Lee loses county GOP convention — but wins enough support to make primary
Earlier in the week, House Speaker Mike Schultz said lawmakers asked the attorney general to investigate allegations of fraud and bribery against Lee.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Layton, running for reelection, addresses delegates during the Davis County Republican Party nominating convention at Syracuse High School on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
Also from Utah Eats: A Utah baker ends his run on a Food Network competition; Lucky Slice’s territory grows.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Yeti, a Himalayan-themed bar in Cottonwood Heights, is pictured on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
-
Pittsburg, PA4 minutes agoGame #22: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
-
Augusta, GA10 minutes agoWhat is the cheapest city in Georgia to live with a roomate?
-
Washington, D.C16 minutes ago12th Honor Flight Tallahassee returns home from successful trip to Washington D.C.
-
Cleveland, OH22 minutes agoSupercross: Results From Cleveland, OH
-
Austin, TX28 minutes agoHow Texas’ road, bridge conditions compare to other states
-
Alabama34 minutes agoAlabama edge to pattern his game after 2-time Super Bowl Champ
-
Alaska40 minutes agoAlaska Senate committee advances draft capital budget, boosting funds for school maintenance
-
Arizona46 minutes agoPerson accused of making terroristic threats to medical facility in northern Arizona