[Utes 69]

Jay, has turned zoob on us, we need to pass on him and get a young up and coming DC. plenty good ones out there.

[Chasqui]

Take this with a grain of salt because who knows, but I was Nephi Sewells wedding two weeks ago and the table I was assigned to sit at had an associate athletic Director for the zoobs. I asked him if they were concerned of losing Jay Hill when Kyle retired and he told me it’s not a big concern for them at this point because the entire defense has been run by Sitake, especially post heart attack. Again, maybe it was just this guy talking, but he definitely did not make it seem like they were gonna back up the brinks truck for him.

[Holladay Ute]

https://247sports.com/college/byu/season/2025-football/transferportal/?institutionkey=24079

Does anybody look at that and feel afraid?

They lost some good players (like Marion, Taggart, and Wakley) and they gained some good players (like Tanuvasa, Gentry, and maybe Ryan). They also lost some of the recruiting prospects they were beating their chests about in recent years (like Aisea Moa and Jackson Bowers). All of this to say they arguably lost more than they gained.

We objectively did better in the transfer portal than them. How is that possible if they have gobs more NIL than us? Especially after last season when they went 11-2 and we went 5-7?!

I think one reason people might feel like this is b/c they stole Tanuvasa from us. Tanuvasa played in half our games last year. I don’t know if this is true but I’ve heard he was a bad locker room presence. And he wasn’t even the best player in his position group for us last year. Yes, it hurts to lose him and he is a good player. According to him, Utah offered higher NIL (though this doesn’t jive w/ Whittingham’s statement on the matter so he could be lying).

[Chasqui]

Recruits are important but ultimately it’s a flawed system. Isaac Wilson was a high 4 star qb. Did he look like it last year? At the end of the day you could be a baller in high school but your competition is copper hills high school (no offense). Like sure there is talent, but is it going to translate? That’s why I love Utah’s philosophy. Get “their” guys and develop them. By the time they are juniors they will be studs.

The hard part will be convincing them to stay and keeping them when they ball out.

[Holladay Ute]

On a side note, I think this is what BYU lost after last year?

Starting QB
Starting WR2 (who was statistically almost their WR1)
Starting WR3 (who is the reason we lost to them last year)
Starting LT
Starting C
Entire starting D line
Starting ILB (who was one tackle away from being their leading tackler)
Starting CB1
Starting CB2
Starting SS

In other words, almost their entire defense (we can’t forget that their defense was super experienced last year). And their offensive production took a big hit too! That’s a lot of starting jobs up for grabs. With that being the case, why weren’t they able to bring in better transfers if they had so much money?!

Furthermore, if you look at WHERE their transfer portal losses have gone versus where our transfer portal losses have gone…it’s pretty clear that Utah still has a much more talented roster.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

It will be interesting how they do this year with a target on their backs. They have gotten all the publicity this off season. Big12 podcasters are making them out to be the new Big 12 darlings. We occupied that spot last year and were not the darlings but the c**ky hated pac 12 wannabes. Teams were highly motivated to beat us. We were despised and hated by all before we played 1 game. We had the target while nobody expected them to win more than 5 games. Fast forward to 25 and the shoe is on the other foot.

[dut99002]

Spencer Checketts on Kall700 has Trevor Reilly on recently (you can stream their interview online). They talked about this exact question. Trevor was a GA with the Utes, was on CU’s coaching staff for a season under Deion Sanders and is close with Kalani and Jay Hill. In *his opinion* BYU has a very strong NIL program currently, stronger than the Utes.

I have no insider info myself, but looking at what they’ve pulled off in basketball via NIL reportedly, I think it reasonable to believe there’s some truth to it. Why wouldn’t they try and pay high amounts for football players too? I have lots of BYU alumni friends/contacts who are very well of financially. Guys who are executives of monetary funds, corporate executives, MDs, dentists, have very successful businesses, Harvard MBAs, entrepreneurs, etc. Many like BYU sports and travel to a few away games a year. Are they contributing to BYUs NIL pool? No idea. My point is though that BYU has lots of wealthy supporters who could conceivably be donating to NIL.

Personally, I don’t think the Utes have as wealthy of a base of alumni. I’d guess that Whittingham, Scalley, etc. are fully aware of the “new normal” in the NIL world and are actively trying to make things work.

[chinngiskhaan]

“[Q]uashing more bad BYU fan narratives.”

[Chasqui]

Deep pockets do help but it needs to convert on the field. In no way am I a major donor but what I do give to the crimson club every year, I consider an investment. If Utah doesn’t perform well after one year it’s ok, but if it’s year after year then I start to question that investment especially as its cost goes up every single year. I think it will be the same for major donors. Right now you have donors giving millions but are they going to do that year after year if the payout is 9-3 seasons and an end of December bowl game? I think there will be donor fatigue.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

It comes down to who has the deeper pockets. Is Utahs pockets maxed out or are there certain donors you can go to for a big name player? BYU is highly motivated to surpass the Utes and gain national attention. Right now I’d say they have the deeper pockets.

We have no honor code and a normal college experience. Big advantage for non LDS players. Even some LDS athletes prefer a more diversified campus experience. $$$ can’t buy everything!!

[Author]

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