Another high school All-American game and more praise for Utah signee.

https://n.rivals.com/news/all-american-bowl-week-stock-risers

Well deserved with all of the production from the group even with all of the injuries.

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Here’s the article on Bumphis heading to Mississippi State:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/official-utah-wr-coach-bumphis-to-mississippi-state

I’ll be honest from talking to a close source to Micah, a lot of this falls on Tavion Thomas and his antics. Micah had people in his corner trying to keep him at Utah, but he made the final decision today.

This also has to do with him wanting to be the featured guy and that won’t happen with Ja’Quinden’s emergence.

Going back to Thomas, he’s caused hell in the running back room and I was told Tavion put multiple in a dark place.

This has absolutely nothing to do with Quinton Ganther. Micah loves him.

The former Florida transfer puts his name in the ring for the next stage of his career:

Micah represented Utah the best anyone could ask of a player. He would have been an important piece to the offense next year.

https://utah.rivals.com/news/breaking-utah-rb-bernard-to-the-transfer-portal

Can anyone explain to me, hopefully the coaches said something, as to why Nate wasn't inserted into the game.
I know the redshirt thing was talked about and it was my understanding that the NCAA had ruled bowl games
wouldn't count towards the four games.
Barnes is a great story but not a D1 qb, although I do admire and respect him for what he has done at the U.

Had a great time at the Rose Bowl, despite the loss. Now it's time to get serious about basketball.

Our defense is very good. Main area we need to improve is we give up too many offensive rebounds.

Our offense has been inconsistent. Turnovers continue to be a problem.

Those two weaknesses have made it so our opponent gets many more shots off than we do, which tempers the benefit of our good defense.

In any event, Oregon State is a game we should win while Oregon (which hasn't played particularly well) routinely kicks our butt and I won't expect anything different until it has actually happened.

It's a fun team to watch and much improved over last year.

I’ll throw this as a sticky probably tomorrow. It’s a nice addition to the site by the national staff:

https://utah.rivals.com/transfer_tracker/2023?school_focus=Utah

Per 247sports

With the Transfer Portal starting to hit for the upcoming offseason, here’s a link to follow:

https://n.rivals.com/transfer_tracker/2023

To those who say Utah has hit their ceiling.... Please.

Utah was a playoff team in this new format coming up. In fact... They would have been a playoff team with a first round by. They literally would have been in Ohio State's spot. As I understand it, the 4 highest ranked CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS get first round byes in the new format. Utah was the highest ranked conference champion outside the SEC, B10, B12. Utah was higher ranked than the ACC Champ.

So... Utah would be in the "Great 8" TO START the playoffs. From there it is anyone's guess as to how it turns out.

Utah is RIGHT THERE. Furthermore.... Utah's performance in the ROSE BOWL GAME cannot be indicative of how they would have played in a playoff game. It was CLEAR that Utah missed Phillips and Kincaid. Phillips and Kincaid likely play in a playoff game. I cannot begrudge a kid sitting out an exhibition game - as the Rose Bowl is if they are high league draft guys. Everyone would begrudge a player sitting out a game that was in pursuit of a national championship (as Ohio State should begrudge Njibha or however you spell it).

So.... Chill Conroy. Utah is there. You simply cannot hope for much more than what we are getting and an exhibition game (one we would have looooooooved to win) is not indicative of how a team can or should play in pursuit of a title.

Not every former player is going to be happy with the program after leaving. I completely disagree with his statements.

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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