I think if the Gators moved from the SEC to the Big-12 you’d be feeling the same way. There’s nothing exciting about replacing UCLA, USC, Washington and Oregon on your schedule with Central Florida, Houston, West Virginia and byu-p. All this coupled with the mass chaos of the NIL era. I’m not in the acceptance stage, I’m in the “time to move on” stage.
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TCU was literally a MWC opponent and they are still known for having tepid fan support. And the Utes’ game at Baylor last year was barely half full.
But you’re right… overall it’s not as bad as the MWC. That said, if you do like the Big12 better enjoy it while you can. It’s clear that either way, the U is does not plan on being there long-term.
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I noticed a problem with the B12 schedule this year. UA has to come to both SLC and Provostan, ASU hosts both.
The Arizona schools are going to wail, UA this year, the Forks next year.
This year it probably doesn’t matter, because if the cats can’t win in Provo, they’re having a disappointing year, but this might be a prime year for ASU to knock off BYU.
Wonder how they’re going to fix the schedule in the future.
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Utah does not have a “plan” to leave the B12. The B10 did not offer and that is that. Will they offer? Who knows.
Every single team in the B12 would leave for the B10 if offered so hoping it is going to happen does not constitute a plan.
There is no point grumping about the conference. It could have gone much worse for us and we have not won a damn thing yet. Utah should focus on making their current conference better.
I’m going to focus on enjoying the games we have and am hoping for a great year. There is a lot to be excited about.
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There are several curiosities like that in the scheduling. I also noticed that for hoops and other sports they don’t do the travel partners thing, which seems odd.
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Well spake.
Go UTES!!
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IMO a Big10 invite is quite a ways down the list of things most likely to spurn Utah’s next move. More likely are any number of other realignment scenarios triggered by things like the ACC’s inevitable implosion.
What I know for sure is that (1) the CFB alignment landscape is anything but stable, and (2) the Utes have a great opportunity with what they can control here and now as a member of the Big12. Just win. 
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Today OC is trying to hype the possibility the CFP will take two BIG 12 teams for the playoff…and wouldn’t it suck if they had to play in the Quarterfinals. 
Not going to happen. The Flyover Conference sponsored by Southwest Airlines is going to send ONE team to the CFP - the Conference Champions. Everyone else with 6 or more wins will play in some Big Shrug Bowl. This is what it will be. If we want to be in the CFP, we have to win.
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I feel like the Big 12 and ACC are fighting for about 3 spots.
1 to G5
3 for Big 12 and ACC
8 for Big 10 and SEC
If KSU or KU came into the Big 12 championship at 12-0 and we are 11-1 and win, I think both would be in the playoff.
- Might as well pencil in UGA, Texas, Alabama and one to two of Ole Miss/LSU/Missouri/Tenn/OU for the SEC.
- Might as well pencil in Ohio St., Oregon, one of Penn St./UM for the Big 10
- ND likely in if they take care of business
- ACC could be FSU (I think they are overrated this year), Clemson (can’t stay elite because Dabo won’t use the portal), Miami? NC State? They could end up with 1.
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Please don’t interpret this link as promoting an alternative site, but whenever Sharrieff talks, I’ll reference it.
Sharrieff Shah Says Consistency Has Grown In Utah Cornerback Room (247sports.com)
Highlights:
- Zemaiah Vaughn # is continuing to grow despite getting NFL attention, said to Shah “all of the things you kept telling me- I’m starting to see them before they happen”. My take - for a player who has already made a ton of plays for Utah, this is a sign he’s trying to get to the next level, and we’re the beneficiary… this year.
- Xfr from Georgia Tech #1 Kenan Johnson - “as advertised” (He graded out as being GaTech’s best defensive player last year).
- SO Smith Snowden #2 - “Smith has been super good, solid from the beginning. He’s playing with a level of confidence I hadn’t seen in awhile”
- FR Quimari Shemwell #18 - a little light at 160#, but impressing Shah
- SO Elijah “Scooby” Davis #9 - needed to add weight, showing confidence in the process
- SO CJ Blocker #16 - Shemwell is playing well enough to move to NB behind Snowden, allowing Blocker to focus on playing outside.
Camp and practices are always competitive, but to me it looks like the 1s are Vaughn and Kenan outside, with Snowden at NB.
The young guys seem to be coming along, the 2s appear to be Scooby Davis and Blocker outside, Shemwell at NB. Some guys have been banged up, so the newbies are getting a lot of quality reps, early.
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Chris Curry is back with the Utes as a student assistant helping with running backs.
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Some improvements coming for fans at RES.
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Looong interview, great story of Zemaiah’s journey from unrecruited HS QB from Beaumont, TX to being our #1 CB. He provides a great deal of insight into the program, being a walk-on, Whitt’s first impression on him, his view of Scalley & Shah. It’s long, but worth the view.
Zemaiah Vaughn | University of Utah (SR.) Cornerback details life as an Ute (youtube.com)
Classic Scalley recruit out of Texas, like long time NFL Ute Eric Rowe, who was likewise lightly recruited. Find the talent, find the aptitude, the hunger, coach them up, reap the benefits, hopefully they go on and keep investing in the brand at the next level. No matter what his journey is, you get the sense Zemaiah will have an impact.
Vaughn goes into some detail about what he thinks about Scalley, as well. I liked how he mentioned in passing about marketing himself, his HS video, his academic record, then came out to SLC with just a walk-on offer.
If this doesn’t get you amped up for the season… I don’t know what to say.
EDIT - funny to hear his first time being around Polynesians, ZV is a kid from Beaumont, through and through. We live in a big, diverse nation, it’s so cool how athletics brings us together.
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Something that posted today on my news feed. It was an interesting listen.
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with ESPN+ can I watch the game the next day?
I googled it and I believe you can.
Can you drop a few bullet points. I can’t stand listening to hype-meisters foaming at the mouth about Kansas State or the quality of corn dogs in Norman.
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A couple of yappers, “let’s get to football instead of this election!” (Good point)
- Utah - experience at QB is the difference between K-State and Utah. (It’s a K-State board) Respect for Whitt. "Cannot ignore the importance of Cam Rising "
- Kansas State - some question about skill players
- Oklahoma State - not getting national respect they deserve
- Kansas - if they’re healthy, in top 3
- Arizona - “best QB / WR tandem in the nation”??? (Fifita / Macmillan)
- Iowa State - not getting enough respect, another disruptor, could be in top 4
- West Virginia - Could be ranked 4th, could be a disruptor
- UCF - they suspect UCF will be better than last year, they were inconsistent
- TCU - needs a bounce back year, will miss last year’s QB
- Texas Tech - last year they gave TT benefit of the doubt, but they disappointed. (Apparently they were picked to be in Big12 CCG)
- Colorado - “show us” - If the lines are indeed improved, they could move up
- Baylor - make or break for Dave Aranda
- Houston - like the coach Willie Fritz(?), but they have a long way to go
- BYU - physicality of Big12 caught BYU off balance, one guy sees a brighter future for them, hopes there isn’t a coaching change.
- ASU - not ready to contend
- Cincinnati - wrong coach hired there
These guys are pretty superficial in their analysis, they seem ready & eager to juggle their power rankings based on what happens… ie, it’s all about clicks.
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My personal favorite comedy line was them saying (with absolute sincerity) “BYU fans know their football.”
Yes, it made me spit my morning coffee all over my living room rug and wood flooring.
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Well, here we are on football eve. The team controls their destiny. They are picked by nearly every talking head to roll through the Big12 and emerge as a top 3 or 4 seed in the CFP.
By all accounts we’ve had a great fall camp, we’re stacked and healthy. All this in place yet a big part of me misses the PAC12 to the point of not joyfully anticipating what may well be Utah’s greatest season ever.
Is it that we now are the target rather than the hungry underdog? Is it that this ride is ours to lose?
Help talk me through this.
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It’s this ^^^^^
I’m hopeful for the future, and I think we may have a shot at the playoffs this year, but where we landed in the latest TV/Football/Timezone/FanFest, still does not sit well with me.
I’ll try, and likely succeed, to make the best of it, because in the end I love. and live for, Ute Football. But… I need a bit of help getting through it as well.
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