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Title Contender: Utah

Utes must run the table for a shot at the national title

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Eric Weddle
George Frey/Getty Images
Utah
2005 Record 7-5 (6-2 Mountain West)
Final AP Rank 17
Returning Starters 15 (7 offense, 8 defense)
Last National
Title		 None
The Contenders
Auburn Michigan
Cal Nebraska
Clemson Notre Dame
Florida State Ohio State
Georgia Tech South Carolina
Iowa USC
Louisville Utah
Miami West Virginia

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By Stewart Mandel, SI.com

Why Utah can win it all: After losing coach Urban Meyer and nearly every key player from their 12-0 2004 team, the Utes struggled early last season but ended on a high, throttling Georgia Tech 38-10 in the Emerald Bowl. Now they're experienced at nearly every position. The spread offense will put up big numbers, and the nation's top cornerback, Eric Weddle, leads a veteran D.

What must fall into place: A lot. For one, Utah will once again have to win every game, including its opener at UCLA and consecutive home games against Boise State and TCU. Then the pollsters would have to rank the Utes No. 1 or 2. It would probably have to be like the situation in 1984, when none of the nation's traditional powers went undefeated, helping BYU win the national title.

How it could go wrong: Coach Kyle Whittingham has a potential quarterback controversy on his hands with three solid contenders: Brian Johnson, Brett Ratliff and Oklahoma transfer Tommy Grady. The Utes are also counting on RB Darryl Poston, injured throughout his career, to emerge as the primary ballcarrier. And the Mountain West will be much tougher than it was two years ago.

Good omen: While the Utes made it onto this list, Meyer's current team, Florida, did not.
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