Reason

[kmc165]

Give me one reason why we will be better next year than we were this year, because I am not hopeful.

[AlohaUte]

We’ll have a different QB and different offense

[kmc165]

What QB? Offense is unproven with many impact players being seniors or transferred.

[Dallas]

Maybe we’ll have better luck?

[EagleMountainUte]

Statistically the offense was an outlier. It will go back up. I don’t think the coaching improved at all in the BIG12. The defenses top to bottom were pretty unimpressive.

[//r00t4Utes]

I’d ask you, why do you think the team won’t be better than this season?

[MG_Ute]

I think in this new transfer portal environment we’re living in, it’s easy to feel like the sky is falling. But the reality is, every team is going through the same thing. When we find out players are leaving we assume something is wrong that we don’t know about and that is why players are entering the portal. Do yourself a favor and go visit a few other team’s message boards and you’ll find that it’s not just Utah. It’s every single other division one team’s situation as well. The only direction this team can go after this disastrous year is up. Utah will win anywhere from 7-10 games next year. The portal giveth and the portal taketh. Just wait till spring ball – you’ll see. There will definitely be room for optimism. That’s the culture of Utah football – success.

[2008 National Champ]

The only direction this team can go after this disastrous year is up.

That’s not necessarily true. I agree that I don’t think it will get worse but there is still the possibility that the end result is the same as 2024 but with different players.

A lot of what people were banking on for 2024 success was based on the relatively easy schedule. Looking at 2025, without knowing the order of the conference games, there are more anticipated potholes. Both FBS non-con games are on the road and if UCLA can improve in the 2nd year under their new coach that could easily be a 2-1 start. The conference road games are definitely tougher in 2025 with Baylor (much improved and 3rd year of playing), parochial school, Kansas and West Virginia.

The home slate of Arizona State, Colorado, Texas Tech, K State and Cincy isn’t a given either. Without knowing anything more than the schedule I’d expect Whitt to get back to his usual 8-4 but 6-6 looks just as likely as 10-2 and that hasn’t been the case in the past.

[chinngiskhaan]

When are you ever hopeful? You only come around to bitch.

[UtesRock]

👍😂

[UteFan Vineyard]

Here are 3:

#1 – I’d be shocked if we don’t get better QB play next season. Even if it’s a combo of Rose/Wilson, I’ll expect better results than what we saw this year.

#2 – Fewer injury issues. I don’t expect our 2 most important players (Rising and Kuithe this year) to be out for much of the season due to injuries next year.

#2 – More bounces and questionable calls will go our way. As a contrast to how TSPP won all their close games this year off of a lucky bounce or lucky call here or there, we lost all of our close games with an unlucky bounce or questionable call. Our game against TSPP was a microcosm of the entire season for both teams.

[2008 National Champ]

to your second #2: A lot of those bad bounces were self inflicted which doesn’t always revert to the mean. Just dropped interceptions alone cost the TCU and parochial school games. Even after the “hold heard round the world”, Calhoun dropped a pick 6 that would have iced the game.

Edit: it wasn’t the parochial school game where Calhoun dropped a late pick 6. not sure which game I’m thinking of.

Edit #2: Not Calhoun, Davis. 2nd and 8, Houston at the Utah 37, 10:07 left in the 4th quarter, Utah up 14-7. Davis reads bubble screen pre-snap and moves to the LOS. Knife’s between 2 blockers and is wide open for the backward pass. Instead of making a play on the ball, lowers his head and dives where the receiver used to be. Houston converts a 4th down when Barton misses tackle and then scores on a slant to tie the game.

Play is at 1:50:12 Houston v Utah if the link doesn’t work, here is the URL for the full game replay https://nfl-video.com/utah-vs-houston-football-oct-26-2024-full-game-replay-week-9

[Rick Walker]

Davis’ stupid phantom tackle where he hit nobody and could have easily plucked it right out of the air. Calhoun also probably takes his for 6 if he doesn’t drop the one against byu

[ProudUte]

I think this is a fair question. My answer today is that I don’t know. There are too many unknowns, i.e., who leaves the team for the portal, who we get from the portal, who gets healthy, who develops from the current team, etc.

I certainly hope we improve and improve a lot. But, the season just ended. Nothing has yet happened that has me believing we will be a much improved team. However, there is a long time until August.

[UtesRock]

Investment in NIL will impact our portal success. I believe this to be a reality. I noticed Gundy took a pay cut to help with NIL payouts, although it may have been to simply keep his job.

[Author]

Posts