A New Era for Utah Football
The 2026 college football season is poised to be defined by a series of high‑stakes transitions in the state of Utah, where longtime Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is set to leave for Michigan, and his longtime deputy Morgan Scalley will inherit the program.
Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated recently placed Whittingham third on his list of the most influential head coaches for 2026, citing his successful track record and the ‘blessing’ of his move to Michigan.
Scalley, a former Utah player and assistant, inherits a squad that reached its peak under Whittingham, featuring quarterback Devon Dampier and running back Wayshawn Parker, and he is expected to keep the offense humming while adding his own defensive identity.
Meanwhile, Kalani Sitake at BYU continues to enjoy a resurgence, having guided the Cougars to a 12‑2 record in 2025 and a Big 12 championship game appearance, a performance that earned him a top‑22 spot in Forde’s rankings and a refusal of a Penn State offer.
Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns finished 10‑3 last season and are now projected to contend for a national title, bolstered by the arrival of quarterback Arch Manning and a deep transfer portal class that has raised expectations among analysts.
The much‑anticipated ‘Holy War’ between Utah and BYU is slated for November 7, a matchup that could influence playoff positioning and further cement the new coaching narratives in the Big 12.
Overall, the reshuffling of leadership in Utah, combined with the ascent of Sitake at BYU and Sarkisian’s Texas, adds a layer of unpredictability to the conference, making the 2026 season one of the most compelling in recent memory.