Utah fans get to take a break this weekend and enjoy some stress-free football thanks to a bye.
As it currently stands, the Utes are sitting at eighth in the Big 12 standings. These placements are likely to fluctuate over the next seven games, however, as Utah is slated to play four of the teams ahead of them in the future.
For now, head coach Kyle Whittingham and his staff have their sights set on Arizona State. The Sun Devils won the Big 12 championship last season and have gotten off to a hot start in 2025. Utah will have the luxury of playing host in this matchup at 8:15 p.m. local time on Saturday, Oct. 11.
Since 2015, Utah has a 6-3 record against ASU. Their most recent matchup, in 2024, was won by the Sun Devils, 27-19 in Tempe. Since then, Arizona State’s head coach, Kenny Dillingham, has lost his top offensive threat in Cam Skattebo. Skattebo ran all over the Utes in 2024, single-handedly winning the game for his team with 200 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.
The New York Giants drafted Skattebo last offseason, causing Dillingham and his staff to adjust their offense to different play styles. Two weapons remain the same for the Sun Devils this season, however, in superstar wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and quarterback Sam Leavitt.
Tyson and Leavitt have both been projected to be drafted next season thanks to their strong chemistry in the passing game. This season, Leavitt has thrown eight touchdowns, seven of which have been caught by Tyson. If the Utes can disrupt their dominant connection, Arizona State will have to scramble to find another source of production offensively.
In last year’s matchup, Tyson and Leavitt linked up five times for 84 yards and a touchdown. Holding Tyson to a similar stat line this season would be an absolute win for Morgan Scalley’s defense. Pair that with a balanced offensive attacking scheme by Jason Beck, and Utah will have the momentum necessary to take over.
Arizona State struggles defending the pass, giving up an average of 242.8 passing yards per game. Devon Dampier will look to take advantage of ASU’s questionable secondary with his arm and his legs. Expect a decently high-scoring game as both teams could use a win in a big way.
Some notable games going on in the Big 12 this week include: West Virginia @ BYU, Oklahoma State @ Arizona, Colorado @ TCU, Iowa State @ Cincinnati, Texas Tech @ Houston and Kansas @ UCF. While none of these games directly impact Utah, they have the potential to mix things up in the standings.
All eyes will be on Salt Lake City next week for the game vs. Arizona State, but for now, sit back and relax. Between college football, NFL football, a full MLB playoff slate, and NBA preseason, fans can consume whatever sport strikes their fancy. Get you sleep now, your energy will be needed next Saturday.
