2008 National Champ

If you look at end of regular season rankings since the schedule went to 12 games, P5 teams that go 9-3 end up between 10 and the low 20’s based on who they beat. So the predictions aren’t for anything more than the usual Utah season. Utah’s average record for the last 7 full seasons is 8.6-3.4.

It’s not hype. It’s an acknowledgment that Utah…[Read more]

winning 7 straight to end the year definitely puts a target on your back. Just like Washington in 2023, Arizona will need to prove that the previous year wasn’t a fluke.

They’ve got a ton of young talent but as Utah routinely proves, it can be easier to be the hunter than the hunted

sad in that his time in charge would be done?

Louisiana Monroe?

It was going to be a 3 way rotation between Filinger, O’Toole and Elliss. Not sure it really matters who the starter(s) are with the way they are rotated. Van and O’Toole being out week 1 helped Elliss but he had popped the year before and was going to get plenty of reps even if everyone was fully healthy.

Fano was the one who got the real bump…[Read more]

Spavital runs a pass heavy offense and Mendoza had a decent season. I could see thinking that would be preferable to a receiver after the 2023 Utah offense.

1. I’ve been told on here for the last 8 months that no QB would ever have come to Utah in 2023 because Rising might play. Now that we know Rising will play in 2024, it seems like no QB would ever come to Utah. Or have the goalposts moved and now people are willing to challenge the “goat”

I’ve got to admit that making bowl sponsor’s happy ranks pretty close to the bottom on my “List of things that need to change in college football”.

entering the portal, yes. but the timing of the announcement is odd. He could have signed/committed at any time

gonna need a link to the study that shows a majority of kids who were convicted or pled guilty to felonies before becoming success stories when allowed to play college football

There sure has been a lot of speculation regarding a guy with 9 career catches in D1, even without the baggage. At least Carrington (multiple DUI’s) was a legit pro prospect who knew that he just had to keep his nose clean for ~ 6 months.

I constantly see people refer to the great culture at Utah. What does it say if you are willing to ignore…[Read more]

It’s amazing how talent gets second chances that others may not

I’m not sure the average fan realizes just how tough it is to play corner. Especially the press man coverage Utah prizes. It’s the one position on the field where you can do everything right and still get beat. The reason I pointed out Blackmon is that he wasn’t a pro prospect at corner. But once he moved to Free and spent the majority of…[Read more]

Neither Hall nor Ritchie are top level Free’s, just like Vaki and Bishop weren’t. I’d think that’s where Johnson would go and the other two would split time at Strong. If Johnson can provide Blackmon level play at safety that would help a lot with Scalley’s scheme.

I think you nailed it. Barnes & Rising have similar skillsets: neither has a plus arm but they can make all the throws necessary for the college game, neither has gamebreaking speed but they are both willing and capable of moving the ball with their feet when required. And before some of you think I’m dogging Rising, I’ve also described Bo Nix…[Read more]

It can’t be a coincidence that the bulk of the receivers Utah has brought in have underperformed while lesser rated recruits at a school like WSU continually overperform. Until the offensive scheme values them as something more than downfield blockers and last resort passing options, it really doesn’t matter who you bring in.

Hasn’t seen the field yet.

I believe UW will lose Odunze and probably Polk. MacMillan is a toss-up since he was injured most of the year. Even if all 3 leave Giles Jackson, Germie Bernard and Boston are probably locked in as starters for 2024 so Lyons may have been looking at a couple of seasons before he got a lot of reps. He may also have…[Read more]

I wasn’t underwhelmed by Matthews. I would have liked to have seen a more concerted effort to get him more touches.

The kid started at slot, played both ways on special teams and was a willing blocker. What more were you expecting out of a true freshman?

Normally I would say 1 in 8 but the Big 12 hasn’t made a conscious effort to have rivalry games be the last week of the regular season. Maybe that changes with the new conference alignment