Let's talk about another stud running back out of Florida in freshman Jaylon Glover: https://utah.rivals.com/news/utenation-countdown-to-kickoff-no-1-jaylon-glover

With our criteria for these articles (on campus during spring ball as a scholarship player), today brings us to our final UteNation Countdown to Kickoff article for the season. It's been crazy keeping up with writing the articles the past few months, but it's been fun trying to give more insight to these student-athletes and trying to keep the quality solid with the info we have.

It's only fitting that we finish with a leader of the defense and a guy who we will probably see playing on Sundays sooner than later, no. 1 Clark Phillips III.

Not sure if this is a good or bad thing. College football as we grew up with is long gone.

Utes get a big commitment in the trenches, the night before the season starts…

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I got in late last night, who all is here already?… Also, what’s everyone’s confidence level the closer we get to the game?

It’s back! What does the statistical mind of Joseph Silverzweig say about the matchup in The Swamp? Give it a read…

https://utah.rivals.com/news/statistically-speaking-utah-at-florida

I’d say I was a 7,now an 8.5, tomorrow gonna suck!!! Go Utes!

Miller obviously likes coaching and now gets more experience in G-League. Note he missed just 3 games in his 17-year NBA career! Wonder what he thinks about load management?

Can resist the thought.,,if Utah decides to replace Smith in the future would Miller the top candidate?

Along with Bernard, it’s also time to talk about cornerback Kenzel Lawler…

https://utah.rivals.com/news/utenation-countdown-to-kickoff-no-2-kenzel-lawler

By the end of the season, we could be saying Micah Bernard is the most dangerous offensive weapon the Utes have… It’s almost game time everybody!

https://utah.rivals.com/news/utenation-countdown-to-kickoff-no-2-micah-bernard

Hey all, just in case you haven't had enough Utah-Florida content or you'd like to diversify the way you get your content (video, for instance), here is my video on the upcoming game against Florida. Please leave your predictions in the comment section and like and subscribe, if you will. . Thanks for watching and go Utes!! Let's gitt'r done!!

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Here’s Dustin’s deep statistical dive into the Florida Gators:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/inside-the-numbers-florida-gators

With a new head coach, Florida is a little difficult to figure out what to expect in the season opener, but here's what I gather from reading fall camp reports:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/opponent-preview-florida-22

Jackson was this season's Ty Jordan Aaron Lowe Memorial scholarship recipient and one of the most improved players from the spring: https://utah.rivals.com/news/utenation-countdown-to-kickoff-no-3-ja-quinden-jackson

The Florida transfer is about to see his old team really soon ...

Hope to see a lot of red at the swamp! Go Utes

Step one on getting a handle on transfer portal free agency.

There have been a couple of good comments in the Chandler thread about the upcoming BYU game on Nov. 27 — but I thought I would break it out into its own thread.

I know it has only been one game in the Craig Smith era (two if you count Westminster), but I like what I see so far from the team. There are a lot of new faces, but still plenty of experience. Jenkins, Anthony and Battin are all in their fourth years of college basketball — and so is Both Gach (if he is allowed to play). Carlson is older as a returned missionary and in his third year of college basketball. Worster has a full year of college experience at the Mountain West level. The guys defend and rebound and certainly won't back down from the Cougars.

Plus the game is at the Huntsman Center. While our home fan base hasn't been great, I hope it's good for this game and the curtains are removed. We won't have a football excuse — because our game against Colorado is the day before on Friday afternoon. By contrast, the Cougar football team may be going head-to-head against the basketball game. The Zoobs play USC at the Coliseum that day and the Pac-12 hasn't announced the time yet. Here's hoping it's a night game — so Zoob fans will have the Sophie's Choice of whether to watch football or infiltrate the Huntsman Center.

KenPom has us ranked 89th and BYU at 39th right now — but, after homecourt advantage is figured in, the Cougs are only a 1-point favorite on that site and it gives the Utes a 44% chance of winning. I'll take those odds.

Wouldn't it be great to beat Pope and the Cougars on the court with Chandler in the audience wondering if he made the right choice?

In list form:

1. It's absurd to start questioning Whitt and his desire to coach. He is a top 25 coach in the country. He has his stamps all over the program. Just stop - it is silly to even question him. I get the angst over a loss to TDS but even if Whitt goes 6-6 this year IT IS NOT time to even think about putting a warmer on his seat.
2. Utah lost Saturday and, without discrediting TDS on their win, I have seen this movie play out over and over again. Utah had the BCS Graveyard. It was a battle cry. It showed that the David could slay the Goliath. I watch Utah dismantle team after team because Utah had the desire and emotional edge to beat those schools. Maybe Alabama didn't really WANT to be their after all and Utah capitalized. BYU had the emotional edge Saturday - not true, they didn't have an emotional edge, they had an emotional gulf over Utah. Simply put - BYU was more prepared, hungry, disciplined and emotionally superior team in every aspect. Utah lost because Utah did not take that game seriously enough and it showed. You could feel it from the kick off. I knew at the end of the FIRST QUARTER Utah was going to lose. Football is an emotional game and when you cannot muster it, or match the intensity of the other side, it is near impossible to win. That is on the players.
3. Utah has a defensive line problem. The line is without star power. I think these guys are solid but there is no Leki Fotu, no Star Lotuleilei, etc. I don't think Utah has the horses this year on the d-line. It could be a long season as a result. That is OK - sometimes that flame can't always burn with the same intensity but it is what it is this year. I hope I am wrong but I am afraid not.
4. Utah has an Offensive Line problem. Specifically, Utah has a Jim Harding problem IMO. How many times has Utah walked away empty handed on 4th and short from the opposing team's goal line? Weber and BYU THIS year. I recall Cal, USC, etc., etc. etc. in years past. How many times did Utah come up with 4th and short in 2019? A LOT. How many times did the SAME BLITZ package Weber State employed crush the Utah offense last week? BYU SAID they simply ran the same scheme Weber did and Utah couldn't stop it (I'll see where I can find that quote). Over and over again Utah's O line starts slow only to find it's rhythm late in the year. I don't understand it, I can't understand it. Supposedly Utah's O-line goes up against the best defensive line in the country EVERY DAY IN PRACTICE and yet they seem shell shocked early EVERY YEAR. Utah needs fresh blood there and I hope it happens soon because it is Utah's Achilles heel.

A tip of the hat to TDS and on to SDSU. Right now - even money in my opinion on this game. SDSU wants this one. Does Utah????????

I’m not at liberty to say who and the situation is still fluid, but there could be an unwanted transfer coming that could irritate everyone. It’s fluid.

I’m not trying to leave everyone hanging, but they’re in “save-mode” on a starter, right now. I don’t want to say who and complicate the situation...

Hello friends! It's been about 8 and a half months since our last game thread of any kind, and the third time is the charm for Utah football this fall! Tonight officially begins a new era for Utah football, and Cam Rising is expected to be the starter tonight. If you've paid attention to Alex's posts here and read a little between the lines, this should be no surprise. All the QBs have performed well through camp, but Rising brings a skillset that the coaching staff is excited to unleash. What are your thoughts on the Bentley v. Rising v. Lisk battle? Kyle Whittingham is 11-0 in home openers; will that hold tonight?

I think we will enter summer and the Covid thing will die off. However, I suspect it will raise it's ugly head again this fall. It is spreading in the regions below the equator who are entering their fall / winter now. I suspect this who social distancing thing will be with us awhile.

Lord I hope not.....

So I'm trying to convince my wife to go to the game on Saturday night (in the cold) if I can get decent tickets that don't break the bank. I might be fighting a losing battle because she's not a fan of the cold or the fact that it's a late night game. Her preference is to watch it on our 75" screen tv in the warmth and comfort of our home. That said, I'm still going to see what's available - I'd probably settle for buying one ticket and going myself.

With that - are any of the out-of-town season ticket holders on this site not planning on coming to the game and selling their tickets to a fellow Ute?