Just how similar are these two teams? It’s pretty crazy to take a deep dive at:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/inside-the-numbers-penn-st-in-the-rose-bowl

The Rose Bowl stings, but here’s something to smile about. Check out how Utah signee Mikey Matthews is doing:

https://n.rivals.com/news/ua-game-week-stock-report-on-offensive-players

This was a tough one to watch in the second half. Even though the entire first half felt like a struggle, it was a 14-14 tie. Then the wheels started to fall off. Cam Rising was knocked out of the Rose Bowl again and the defense gave up big plays, including an 87 yard touchdown run and 88 yard touchdown pass. Disappointing in play calling and execution.

Let's hear your thoughts.

Plenty more thoughts will be coming my way, but here are Halie’s takeaways:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/takeaways-penn-st-beats-utah-in-109th-rose-bowl-game

Guess how many NY6 bowls Michigan has actually won going back to the creation of the BCS?

Two.

Same as Utah.

The 2000 Orange Bowl and the 2012 Sugar Bowl.

One national title, that they actually shared with Nebraska, in 75 years.

I'll give 'em credit for their Big Ten wins (though, prior to last season, Michigan hadn't won the Big 10 since 2004) but purely on a national level, Michigan is not elite.

I get they're college football royalty but holy crap is this program non-existent most years on the national stage. To me, they remind me of UCLA pre these last few years - a program completely living off its laurels.

The good news, I guess, is that UCLA has returned to national relevancy - so, maybe Michigan will too.

The Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential​

No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions vs No. 8 Utah Utes​

5:00 PM Eastern, ESPN
Utah -2.5

What a better way to end the season* than to watch our favorite team in the granddaddy of them all? Penn State ascends to the Rose after both Ohio State and Michigan made the playoff, while Utah is here for the second time in as many years. The Utes and Buckeyes played a barn burner last time around, so let’s hope the fireworks can continue, and for the Big Ten team to prevail once more!

Should you watch? Yes, Penn State fan, you should watch!
Prediction: Penn State 56, Utah 17

It's time!

It’s game day!

This has all of the game week content, plus collaboration links near the bottom with myself and the Penn State site. It also includes all of the Media day videos:

UteNation Rose Bowl Game Guide

What does Joseph’s statistical model say? It expects a close one:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/statistically-speaking-the-rose-bowl-1

I'm assuming that he transferred from AZ

Happy new year everyone! Let's hope it starts with a bang in the Rose Bowl!

Random but fun story. I just got a picture texted to me from an old manager with someone that they met in a JFK airport bar. She and her boyfriend are on their way to the Rose Bowl and started chatting with some fellow Utes that were wearing Utah gear. Eventually, one of the women they were chatting with randomly asked if my old manager if they knew a Sean Davenport, and my old manager said yes. It turns out that my old manager just met my younger sister's roommate from when she was a freshman at Utah. Small world! And as always, go Utes!

Yes it’s very early in the Pac 12 basketball season but our Runnin Utes are in FIRST place, even if it only last for a short period of time. They’re playing hard, and coming together as a team. It’s definitely time for Utah fans to start showing up at the Huntsman and at least filling up the LOERT bowl with Pac 12 season here. This team deserves and has already earned our support. I only wish I lived in Utah and I could show up for every home game.

Josh Furlong reported today that Yassmin confirmed what I’ve been telling everyone on here. He’s leaning towards coming back.

A lot of this has to do with him finally getting an opportunity and seeing all of the success.

Just awful news…

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Let’s take a statistical look at Penn State as Sean sees the similarities between the two, plus their strengths, question marks and x-factor:
https://utah.rivals.com/news/rose-bowl-opponent-preview-penn-state

The cornerback will have one year to play. He’s a former 4-star recruit. Article coming.
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Maybe this would be easy for some of you, but I'm having a tough time:

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Utes get a tall corner with lots of SEC experience via the transfer portal:

Between Cal and Utah, the Utes were the better of two cold teams:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/takeaways-runnin-utes-defeat-cal-58-43

If anything breaks like Battle, I promise we’ll get to it as soon as we can. Halie and I are both traveling today, so Sean is keeping a look-out.

Utah’s starting five: Braden Carlson, Ben Carlson, Gabe Madsen, Marco Anthony, Rollie Worster.

Old UteNation friend, Kevin Noon, reached out to me recently asking if I’d like an opponent’s perspective on Penn State. Give it a read:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/rose-bowl-q-a-a-chat-with-a-big-ten-friend

We did not see Jaylon Glover late in the season. I know he was injured at one point, but I am not sure if he was healthy and did not play or if he was still recovering from his injury. Do we expect him to play in the Rose Bowl?

I am probably living too much in the past. I usually have lots of fun interacting with fans of other teams. My worst experience as a fan was receiving a bunch of aggressive religious verbal abuse dished out by a group of Penn St fans trying to pick a fight after the NIT game in Madison Square Garden. It was all I could do to stay silent; I wanted to wheel around and say, "Really? Ever heard of a guy named Sandusky?" Fortunately I held back and lived to tell the tale.