# ESPN dismisses Utah Utes as National Championship contenders despite big win over BYU: ‘They won’t win’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/espn-dismisses-utah-utes-as-national-championship-contenders-despite-big-win-over-byu-they-wont-win/
- Published: 2026-11-11T03:05:36+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T03:21:55+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/espn-dismisses-utah-utes-national-championship-contenders-despite-big-win-over-byu-they-wont-win
- Topics: Elections, Football, Politics, Sport, World

## Key points

- Utah beat BYU 28-20 to reach 9-0.
- ESPN analysts doubt Utah can win the national title.
- Utah sits second in the AP poll and ninth in SP+.

## Summary

Utah beat BYU 28-20 on 7 November, improving to 9-0 and moving to second in the AP Top 25 behind Georgia. The result strengthened Utah’s College Football Playoff position and its case as a national championship contender, but ESPN analysts Heather Dinich and Paul Finebaum questioned whether the team is good enough to win the title.

Dinich praised quarterback Devon Dampier and Utah’s season, while pointing to a close win over Colorado and BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier’s four interceptions and the team’s penalties as reasons for doubt. Finebaum was more categorical, saying Utah would not win the championship. The article argues that such scepticism reflects bias, noting Utah is ninth in ESPN’s SP+ rankings, just behind Alabama, and has beaten top-15 Houston as well as BYU.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.