All-American Alex Smith left Utah after his sensational 2004 season, leaving the ball in the hands of Brian Johnson, and all Johnson did was lead the Mountain West in passing efficiency and total offense and land on the all-conference second team. After Johnson went down with a knee injury, junior college transfer Brett Ratliff took over, threw for four touchdowns and ran for 112 yards and another score in a 41–34 upset of BYU in the regular-season finale. Then he completed 73 percent of his passes for Emerald Bowl and Utah postseason records of 381 yards and four touchdowns in a 38–10 rout of Georgia Tech. Head coach Kyle Whittingham has a decision to make.

He also has to find help for his signal-caller, with the top two receivers and second-team All-MWC running back Quinton Ganther all gone. Three returning starters up front, led by second-team all-conference tackle Tavo Tupola, will be a welcome sight.

The unquestioned leader of the Ute defense is cornerback Eric Weddle, the reigning Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

The 2006 season starts with a bang at UCLA on Sept. 2. The midseason matchup with TCU and the finale against BYU are both in the friendly confines of Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Athlon Pick: Second in the Mountain West

Still clicking
The Utes led the Mountain West Conference in total offense last year with 473 yards per game.

Winning habit
Utah’s 18-game winning streak that ended in an overtime loss to TCU last season is a school record.

Fast start
Kyle Whittingham is only the second coach in Utah history to go to a bowl game his first year at the helm, and the first to do it without any head coaching experience.

Returning Starters
7 offense, 8 defense, punter

2006 Schedule
S. 2 at UCLA
S. 9 Northern Arizona
S. 16 at Utah State
S. 23 at San Diego State
S. 30 Boise State
O. 5 TCU
O. 14 at Wyoming
O. 19 at New Mexico
O. 28 UNLV
N. 11 Colorado State
N. 18 at Air Force
N. 25 BYU

2005 Results (7-5, 4-4)
S. 2 Arizona W 27–24
S. 10 Utah State W 31– 7
S. 15 at TCU L 20–23
S. 22 Air Force W 38–35
O. 1 at N. Carolina L 17–31
O. 8 at Colo. State L 17–21
O. 15 San Diego St. L 19–28
O. 22 at UNLV W 42–32
N. 5 Wyoming W 43–13
N. 12 New Mexico L 27–31
N. 19 at BYU W 41–34
D. 29 #Georgia Tech W 38–10
#Emerald Bowl