A conference collapses, a coach parts ways — and 8 more compelling Utes stories from 2023

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Utah QB Bryson Barnes runs past USC safety Zion Branch during the Utes’ victory over the Trojans the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

It’s been an eventful year for University of Utah sports.

There’s seemingly never a dull moment in the athletic department, and this year, the university produced plenty of drama.

There was seismic conference realignment — the Pac-12’s collapse led Utah moving to the Big 12 — the gymnastics program parted ways with its longtime head coach, and NIL deals and transfer portal comings and goings kept things interesting on the hill.

Quarterback Cam Rising’s injury recovery, and subsequent will-he-won’t-he-play saga, was certainly one of the most intensely followed stories of 2023, and the announcement of his return in 2024 can’t be understated.

The ski team won its fourth straight national championship, and women’s basketball, gymnastics, softball, men’s tennis and lacrosse won conference championships.

Basketball looks to be on the upswing at Utah, with the women’s basketball team making a Sweet 16 run and this year’s men’s basketball team looking to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.

Here’s a look at 10 of the most compelling Utah Utes stories this year.

The Pac-12 collapses

The Pac-12’s demise was the biggest story of the year on the Utah beat, and one of the most notable stories in college sports in 2023.

USC and UCLA left the Pac-12 teetering after bolting to the Big Ten Conference. After the Los Angeles schools’ departures, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff still tried to cobble together a television deal, but Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark beat him to the media deal punch, inking a nearly $2.3 billion media deal with ESPN and Fox that reportedly will pay out $31.6 million per…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/conference-collapses-coach-parts-ways-040000425.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2023-12-30 04:00:00

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