Which Utah school has most players on track to make NFL playoffs? – Deseret News

During the 2024 NFL season, there were 34 Utah ties on the rosters of the 14 playoff teams.

If the 2025 postseason were to start this week, there again would be 34 Utah ties on NFL playoff rosters.

It would tie the highest number of Utah ties on postseason rosters since the NFL expanded its playoff field from 12 to 14 teams in 2020.

There’s still eight weeks left in the 2025 season, and playoff positioning still has plenty of time to shake out in a variety of ways, particularly in the wild-card races.

It’s an indication, though, that the state of Utah will again be well-represented in the NFL postseason.

Of the 34 players who would be on playoff rosters if the postseason started this week, more than half of them, 18, played at the University of Utah.

BYU is next, at five players.

That’s a noticeable difference from last year, when the Utes also led the representation in the playoffs over BYU, though at a difference of 11 to 9.

Here’s how this year’s group of Utah players would break down if the NFL playoffs began this week.

Of note: players are counted for every Utah school they played at least one season at, and can count towards multiple schools. Players like Puka Nacua, for example, count both toward a college, BYU, and a high school, Orem High, on this list, as they played at both.

Utah — 18 total, 10 on active rosters, 7 on practice squads, 1 on injured reserveBYU — 5 total, 4 on active rosters, 1 on injured reserveUtah State — 3 total, 2 on active rosters, 1 on practice squadWeber State — 2 total, 2 on active rostersSouthern Utah — 2 total, 2 on injured reserveSnow College — 2 total, 2 on active rostersUtah high schools — 15 total, 11 on active rosters, 2 on practice squads, 2 on injured reserve

Here’s a look at what Utah ties would be on NFL playoff rosters if the postseason started this week. Players are on the active roster unless otherwise noted.

Denver offensive tackle Garett Bolles (72) lines up against Dallas during a game Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Denver. | Jack Dempsey, Associated Press AFC playoff picture through Week 10Indianapolis Colts (8-2)Blake Freeland, OT, BYU and Herriman High (On injured reserve)Denver Broncos (8-2)Garett Bolles, OT, Utah, Snow College and Westlake HighJonah Elliss, OLB, UtahKarene Reid, LB, Utah and Timpview HighCaleb Lohner, TE, Utah (on practice squad)Kyrese Rowan, WR, Utah State, Utah and Roy High (on practice squad)New England Patriots (8-2)Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU and Granger High Miles Battle, CB, Utah (on practice squad)Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State, Snow College and East HighMiles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah (On injured reserve)Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)Andre James, C, Herriman HighMarcus Williams, S, Utah (on practice squad)Thomas Yassmin, TE, Utah (on practice squad)Buffalo Bills (6-3)Cole Bishop, S, Utah Jackson Hawes, TE, Highland HighTaron Johnson, CB, Weber StateDalton Kincaid, TE, UtahMitch Wishnowsky, P, UtahJacksonville Jaguars (5-4)Devin Lloyd, LB, UtahTim Patrick, WR, UtahJa’Quinden Jackson, RB, Utah (on practice squad)Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, right, runs against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Upton Stout (20) during game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. | Jed Jacobsohn, Associated Press NFC playoff picture through Week 10

Note: This is before Monday night’s game between Philadelphia and Green Bay, though a loss wouldn’t push either team out of the playoff picture.

Seattle Seahawks (7-2)Connor O’Toole, LB, UtahRashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber StatePhiladelphia Eagles (6-2)Cameron Latu, TE, Olympus HighBritain Covey, WR/RS, Utah and Timpview High (on practice squad)Green Bay Packers (5-2-1)Zayne Anderson, S, BYU and Stansbury HighChris Brooks, RB, BYUJordan Love, QB, Utah StateTampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)Los Angeles Rams (7-2)Puka Nacua, WR, BYU and Orem HighDetroit Lions (6-3)Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills HighSione Vaki, RB, UtahChicago Bears (6-3)Noah Sewell, LB, Orem HighJaylon Johnson, CB, Utah (on injured reserve)Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah and Murray High (on injured reserve)How much could this change over the next two months?

A lot can and probably will change in terms of which NFL teams will make the postseason over the next eight weeks of the 2025 season.

For example, Kansas City, which has played in five of the past six Super Bowls, is currently just outside the playoff picture. The Chiefs are 5-4, and they have three players with Utah ties on their active roster right now.

In the AFC, NFL Analytics currently project that Baltimore and Kansas City have 65% or better odds of making the playoffs, despite being outside the playoff picture right now.

In the NFC, NFL Analytics project that San Francisco, which is 6-3, has a 74% chance of reaching the postseason.

If the Ravens, Chiefs and 49ers all made the playoffs, that would tighten the playoff representation gap between BYU and Utah, as all three teams have former Cougars on their rosters, though Baltimore also has former Ute quarterback Tyler Huntley.