Biggest fears going in to the new conference.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Let me preface by saying I love our coaches, team and rabid fans. Plus my lips are red from the Cherry koolaide and I wear my red goggles with pride.

I have a couple of fears going to the season:
1. Playing in raucous stadiums for the first time. We will have a target on our back every game. Extra motivation to knock us off.
2. Weather factors that could change the direction of the game. Heat, high humidity, wind and heavy rain. We saw very little in the pac12.

Good news is nobody has played at RES which gives us a huge home field advantage. Senior leadership will play a big part in being prepared on the road. Rising needs to stay healthy and lead us to the CFP.

[High Uintas]

I upvote any post that doesn’t use the name of the new conference. It’s like not saying the name of the team down south.

[ALUF]

I would also add that no team in P5 since 2000 I believe has won their league since joining there new league. Example: Nebraska hasn’t won the big ten yet after leaving the big xii. This only applies to P5 to P5 movement. I could be wrong though on this stat.

[CB]

Utah???

[ALUF]

Utah was MW to pac-12, this is bcs to bcs movement or P5 to P5

[Central Coast Ute]

I get that argument but going from the B12 to the B1G isn’t the same as going from the P12 to the B12.

[PhiladelphiaUte]

The heat/humidity will only be a factor in Stillwater. But it won’t be as bad there as it was last year in Waco.

The next “hot” game we’ll play won’t be until mid-October, when we head on down to Tempe. But we’d have done that anyway in the Pac-12.

We play @ Houston next, but that’s the weekend before Halloween. So it’s not like there will be any “heat advisories” in that game. The average late-October temperatures in Houston ranges from 60-80 degrees, depending on the time of day. The closer to evening kickoffs, the lower the mercury, and closer to “60 degree” football weather.

We get Baylor and TCU in SLC.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Great points Philly. The schedule is definitely in our favor.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

We are not playing talented west coast entitled players. We are playing lunch pail Midwest players that are tough mentally and physically. A little less talent but more drive. More the Ute mentality.

[AlohaUte]

Not sure I agree with playing in a racous stadium for the first time. Autzen is as difficult and racous a place to play as there is. The BYU game in 2021 in Provo was nuts, etc. That said, the Big12 will have it more consistently.

But looking at our road games this season, only Oklahoma State will have that atmosphere, maybe Colorado depending on how the team is doing (but we are familiar with CU). Houston, UCF, and ASU aren’t anything crazier than we’ve experienced in the pac-12. The schedule really does do us a favor.

When we have a season with @ISU, @TTU, @KSU it will be kinda nuts.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Sorry I didn’t clarify of playing in raucous stadiums for the first time. We have played Oregon and BYU every other year so they are more familiar. A good example was playing Florida two years ago. We had Rising and Kuithe and a returning TT. We were expecting to win that game.

[Central Coast Ute]

I’ve been to a few games at the Coliseum. 2017 and 2019 were pretty loud. I realize the team is entirely different but let’s not think all P12 stadiums were always silent.

[OmahaOmaha]

The humidity in Big12 country is no joke. Nothing takes a toll like humidity. Just like sea level teams playing at high elevation is no joke. Both are an effective home field advantage.

[AlohaUte]

Im.glad we are getting UCF in late November

[AlohaUte]

Im.glad we are getting UCF in late November

[AlohaUte]

Im.glad we are getting UCF in late November

[Central Coast Ute]

What do you think about playing UCF in late November?

[uteof]

The temperature in Houston may be tolerable, but the humidity is probably going to be over 90%. In our three years there the Texas never very close to 100 degrees, but the humidity was a killer, frequently above 95%. Teams from other areas, even in Texas, had a tough time.

Stillwater is bound to be tough. They’ll probably have SLC-type temperatures with humidity over 70%. Incidentally, to get to Stillwater from Oklahoma City, just go north until you smell it, then east until you step in it. That’s what we learned when we moved to Oklahoma City.

[dut99002]

Injuries are my biggest fear. Keep Cam healthy and the team will have the best chance at winning the conference.

[Trailgoat]

Sipping the Koolaide until the OSU game. Utah has everything in place to win the B12. Mostly all good for Utah to run the B12. Some of my fears/questions. How do Rising and Kuithe respond being out of football for so long? Can KW coach his team to play high level football throughout the season in the limelight? How does Utah respond to critical game situations winning the routine 1-2 WTF games Utah fails to show up and play to their potential?

As long as Utah shows up, Utah’s non-conference schedule is a series of organized scrimmages considering the state of BU and Utah State. Three games to get Rising mentally back in game shape and help keep a rotation of players on the field going into the OSU game. From a play-off and business perspective, the OSU game is a huge game for Utah going into the B12 season. One of the most intriguing, exciting seasons in Utah football history.

[//r00t4Utes]

Speaking of the non conference schedule, I hope Utah and the coaching staff take advantage of this depth. Not just meaning potential 4th qtr blowouts, I mean getting used to rotating and subbing in and out players quickly. Keep these players as fresh as possible all season long, especially on the DLine.

[Utah]

WHAT!!!!! Don’t buy this stadium bulls**t. Utah has played at Michigan, Autzen, Florida, the Rose Bowl, Husky Stadium.

This stadium nonsense is just that. Nonsense. The crowd noise will not be a factor because it ain’t that abnormal.

Utah will struggle at Oklahoma St or Orlando Florida…lol. Give me a break.

S**t, we went to Baylor last year, with no offense and beat them. I guarantee you that no stadium will be intimidating to this team or coaching staff. We’ve been there before and conquered much bigger giants.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Utah you just proved my point we lost all those games. Playing and winning are two different things. It’s tough to win on the road. Baylor was 3-9 last year and took us to the fourth quarter.

[UteThunder]

We didn’t lose all of those games. We’ve beaten Michigan, Washington, and Oregon, all on the road. But, we’ve also lost to all of those teams on the road. How many of those losses, or the Florida and Rose Bowl losses, were due to the crowd? I would wager they were mostly due to the other teams being better and/or Utah suffering key injuries in those games.

[ALUF]

[Central Coast Ute]

Utah lost at Michigian, never won at the Rose Bowl, Authentic, or Husky Stadium? Man living in your reality must suck.

[Rick Walker]

No we beat Michigan in the big house in 2014 I think it was. I think that’s what is being referred to.

[PhiladelphiaUte]

We beat them in at the Big House in 2008 and 2014. And our only loss there was 3-pt setback, back in 2002 — a season we’d finished 5-6, and Michigan closed out 10-3 and ranked in the Top-10.

I’d say we’ve held our own in loud venues.

GO UTES!!!

[Central Coast Ute]

Yes, Rick. My question was rhetorical. He was saying Utah lost those games, and as Philadelphia pointed out, that’s not been the case.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Since joining the pac 12 road games. Oregon 1-3
Washington 1-4
Florida 0-1
Michigan 1-0
Tough to win on the road with big crowds.

[Rick Walker]

Oh, I totally glossed over the question mark, my bad

[DataUte]

To me, it’s less about the stadium itself, but the road trips where it’s all new. Cognitive load taking away from the focus on the game. We have a great logistics staff and they are visiting these locations and getting tips from the schools and conference (where to stay, eat, etc.). But each player may feel a little off in knowing simple stuff like where the bathroom is. Not a huge deal, but new situations 6 times is more than prior years when they maybe had one ‘new’ road game out of conference and they could figure that out since it was a one-off.

Overall, same concern with learning the tendencies of the new schools that just comes with time, prep, and repetition. No big deal doing that once or twice a season, but we’ll have it more. At least there isn’t an Air Force or some different offense to learn. We also have to figure out how to best figure out their signals quickly ;).

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Part of my point thanks Data

[Utah]

Here is my reply to all this: Sure. But the Big 12 teams have the same issues with us. Iowa St, Baylor and TCU will all go through that. Plus, they all have to prep for us having never seen us, and frankly, we are more talented than they are.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I couldn’t agree more Utah. We have the same advantage as them and more talent. Hopefully that talent will payoff on the road. Plus throw in a senior Qb that is playing to get drafted and has played in big games in hostile environments.

[DataUte]

They have the same issue with us BUT not the other Big 12 teams they’ve played for years. It’s the cumulative effect (more of the road games). Ok St. has @ BYU and @ CU as their only ‘new’ locale. We have @ Stillwater, @ Houston, @ UCF (but luckily Utah St. is close, non-conference anyway, @ ASU which we are used to, @ CU which we are used to. This year we got a pretty favorable schedule in that regard. So, maybe not as much as 6 new game experiences/teams that I was projecting, but there is a change.

Oh, new worry – getting used to Big 12 officials. They might actually be somewhat competent, so I fear we will get thrown off when we don’t have a random targeting ejection a couple times during the year ;).

[Charlie]

I think the stadiums on road games will not be a big factor. It is so helpful that both the offense and defense set callers have already experienced getting everyone lined up and in assignment before in hostel and loud stadiums. The only exception is QB2 which is common and Loma. I expect Loma is getting much attention and is working with the LG. It will be game 4 which is much better than rolling a new starter out at Florida. That place was insane with, I expect, nothing close to it in the Big-12. Other new starters like WRs brought experience with them, only Lyons and Lohner will be new to stadium chaos. The C is somewhat settled in and should be good to go by game 4.

As to weather, wind and rain effects both teams pretty much the same. Whitt did learn from a average Az team that RichRod had practice under lawn sprinklers and upset a favored Utah team on a very rainy day. As for heat, we learn about the readiness of the 2s. Most important is the DL and that rotation could not be better, OL just does not see much rotation. The skill players are deep in WR and TE groups, S and CB depth we just need to see. But even teams that see heat more also may not have 2 that can rotate in without weak spots. The Houston and UCF games should be out of the high heat windows, ASU does not matter.

[UteNamedOg]

Utes should be fine. Show up to games, be loud, and support on the road if you can. Utes will have a target simply because many media outlets and personalities have their championship pick as OSU, KSU, or Utah. Plus it could always be worse – imagine how weird it is to be an ASU/BYU fan getting off the plane and seeing you’re the only one walking on all fours.

[22Ute22]

None, except for seasons in which we get unlucky and draw all the farthest road destinations. For example, @UCF, @WVU, and @Cinci.

Big 12 fans saying stadium like Autzen or Husky stadium aren’t loud. The noise will not be significantly higher. It’s not LSU or Florida.

Big 12 fans saying that the 3-3-5 defense is something that Utah fans will struggle with don’t know what they are talking about. Utah coaches obviously know what the 3-3-5 is, and will prepare for it accordingly. Do they expect our coaches to just come in unprepared for the 3-3-5 and be shocked when they see it in game? If the 3-3-5 was so amazing, teams like UGA, Ohio State, or Bama would run it as their base defense. The 3-3-5 is not some god tier scheme, or else every team would run it. It’s a scheme that can allow lesser talented teams to potentially slow down higher talented teams with explosive offenses, particularly spread and air raid teams. Utah doesn’t even run that offensive scheme anyway. I’m not a football coach or analyst, and maybe OnlyU or someone else can provide insight here (or maybe we can start a thread about it), but I imagine that Utah is probably very well equipped to deal with the 3-3-5 with our TE’s and the mismatches they can create.

[Charlie]

There are different flavors of 3-3-5 defense. But for the most part the set is lighter and used to cover 4 WRs giving up something to stop the running game. Going the other way, those defenses may not be used to 12 and 13 TE packages that run or pass. Runs can seem like a lot more bigger bodies running at them than they are used to. On passing downs the defense presents blocking questions as to where the rush will come from. That pass rush hates a QB in a shotgun that makes good decisions and executes quickly. Old Cam would eat that willingly, I expect that ’25 Cam will be able to do so without much running. A TE run around the opposite TE[s] is one example of a play against a defense out of position. Always punish a defense out of position if possible.

[PhiladelphiaUte]

TCU ran the 3-3-5 D back when we were in the MWC. They discontinued it, and moved to a 5-2 once they’d joined the Big 12, because it wasn’t working against them.

[Uteanooga]

1- That our conference opponents will be better than we think they will be while being nationally underrated. Texas has produced a lot of tremendous football players. Football seems to be something of a religion with huge high school stadiums, devoted fans, and well coached players. We have brought in a lot of fantastic yet underrated TX prospects that have excelled. Players like 3* Brant Kuithe from Katy, TX.

TCU was always a tough game when we were conference mates and I thought a big part of this was their ability to recruit excellent yet under recruited players from TX and develop them into studs- just like Utah does.

2. That our recruiting could fall off if we don’t dominate the conference.

I am not predicting that these will happen but this my attempt at listing
fears for the new conference. I am excited about the conference, the year, and Utah’s future.

[The Miami Ute]

Biggest Fear Number 1 – That neither Rising nor Kuithe are the same players that they were before their injuries. This being football, it would not be the first time something like this happened. If that’s true, particularly in Rising’s case, then we’re in for a rollercoaster season, to put it mildly.
Biggest Fear Number 2 – That Utah gets every opposing team’s best effort in their conference schedule. If this happens, especially in the away contests versus OK ST and UCF, it could be problematic.
Biggest Fear Number 3 – Lack of familiarity with opponents leads to mistakes by the coaching staff or key players during in-game situations.

[Central Coast Ute]

Utah will get every teams best shot for sure. Look at the Baylor game last year. They wanted it bad.

[The Miami Ute]

The game at UCF really worries me now. Last game of a long season, players nicked up, about as long of a plane ride you can take from Utah and still stay in the Lower 48, rabid, sold out stadium with the likelihood of a national audience against a pretty good team.

[PhiladelphiaUte]

UCF’s recruiting is what worries me. 2 yrs in a row! At this pace, they should be a force in the Big 12 as soon as next year. And seeing as how we’ll be getting them at the end of the year, they should be a more “veteran” team by then — assuming injury attrition doesn’t get ’em first.

[Utah]

We are a deeper team than UCF. A couple injuries and they are an average G5 team.

They still need a couple more years recruiting to get to where they are contenders.

UCF at the beginning of the year is a much better team than UCF in November.

[DataUte]

Hopefully by UCF, we have locked up a spot in the CCG and we can play loose and free. And I agree that UCF could be banged up, negating their young talent they have been building.

[CityCreekUte]

I think that it’s the 1st time vs [team] thing and we’re going to be getting a lot of teams best shot.

Sometimes Whitt etal. have been phenomenal on a 1 game basis (bowls) and sometimes it has been a massive dumpster fire of a game plan.

He’s a grinder and so over time, and multiple game sample sizes he’s found ways to grind it out and beat equal or better teams and not lose to many worse ones. But these 1st time games have been a coin flip… You saw this in the early PAC12 years when we’d lose to ASU and Colorado when we should be beating them but lay eggs.

[Author]

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