Year 1 for Utah Football in the Big 12 | What challenges will Kyle Whittingham face in 2024?

it is a whole new world for the Pack 12 schools joining the Big 12 but how challenging will it be in year one you are locked on youut your daily podcast on the Utah Utes part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day welcome to locked on Buffs I am your host Kevin Bor but today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel make every moment more as playoffs wind down the Sports Stop sporting like we want them to but this summer FanDuel hook up all customers with a boost or bonus daily that's right there's something for everyone every day all summer long visit fanduel.com to get started we also brought to by the locked on podcast Network it's your team every day for free and available wherever you get your podcast thank you guys for making me your first listen and if you need a great second listen go check out my guy JT Wisher still I locked on UT because he has everything you need to know about Utah covered JT thank you for joining us let's talk about Colorado Utah they're kind of in this weird predicament where it didn't feel like they were in the Pack 12 very long I don't know if it felt like they ever got settled in the Pack 12 Utah did at the end there but it's like okay by the time they figure things out they're moving on what are some of the challenges you think Colorado and Utah could face specifically Utah though yeah I think it's an interesting angle for both schools and uh great to be with you again Kevin it's such a just strange time where we're adjusting to this where it's like you're making you're not making the jump from oh group of five to power five it's you're making power well now we're power we were power five now we're power four so in that regard it's changed um I I think the it's interesting for a school like Utah and Colorado because it's the Tendencies and some of the things and you can watch film enough like that but like there's just such a familiarity with a school like like a UCLA for having played them year after year you know the Tendencies You know the adjustments because just like in practice there's no experience like game experience and they same thing applies for you can watch all the amount of film you want but I still think it's different when you're in a game coaching against someone when a mistake you've made against that program has burned you that you remember like I'm not g to mess up and do that again you're just it's new Tendencies Styles everything so I think that's where the change is from like when I look at Colorado though they have the best quarterback in the conference when I look at Utah I think they have the best top to bottom roster in the conference so I think those things will help them navigate that change better than in Arizona State this fall um so that's like an example of where I just feel like that having that Talent level will help make it a little bit easier but is different than like for Utah and Colorado joining well not Colorado because you guys came from the Big 12 of course but like for Utah joining from the Mountain West Conference that was a big jump in Talent level versus Utah's already picked to win the conference so not as drastic as previous Conference changes but in terms of styles playing in atmospheres all of that um like in Texas going to Texas more frequently for Utah adjusting to that climate is something that they'll have to reckon with and I don't think their games in Texas this year are it's Houston so it won't be too hot then but like they got a taste for that in Baylor last year so there are slight changes but ones that I feel like both Utah and Colorado are more than capable of overcoming yeah I think and you could attest to this is the biggest challenge is figuring out what their new identity is and this is just from an overall perspective because both programs I think in the Pack 12 Utah like I said much more established they both joined the Pack 12 in 2011 they actually made it go from the pack 10 to the Pack 12 so TBT to that um but I would say even though Utah was more established in the Pack 12 they establish themselves a sort of like a West Coast conference right and so I think now or a West Coast school now Colorado and Utah they're traveling to Florida they're traveling to Texas frequently for conference games so I feel like they kind of have to shift their identities shift the recruiting Nets if a little bit because it's like at the same time while you no longer going to Los Angeles you're going to Texas and so maybe that opens the doors for you recruiting wise in Texas even more or maybe it makes it harder to get kids from LA because you don't go there at least once a year what do you think about sort of the identity change it could cause I definitely think it changes recruiting that's something Utah has been adamant about trying to and they've recruited Texas and even Florida with some really good players out of there recently Brant keithy is a guy who came out of Texas Tyler Huntley a guy from Florida a few years back but I do think we'll see less guys from California I think you'll still add a you of course because you know California is one of the top high school football States you and you want to recruit talented players but one thing you can't offer to guy in who lives in the Los Angeles Market anymore is like oh pretty much every year we'll play at least one game in your home state that's not happening anymore versus there was always that USC or UCLA game so I do think that's something that changes slightly too and just when you know this when you're if you want to be the best in your conference you want to recruit your state at the highest level Utah's obviously focusing for that for their own State all those schools in Texas want to recruit Texas at the highest level they can how does Utah hinder their efforts by recruiting the best players in Texas to come to their school and I do think that's something that Utah wants to do Utah and TCU I've seen attached to a ton of recruits for example and obviously Colorado with their recruiting efforts is going to be involved in a lot of the top players which we know all the hype that Deion Sanders is able to generate and the excitement they have coming up this season so I do think those are where the changes come geographically because just like in the Pack 12 it was like hey we'll play in your home state a few times now in the Big 12 hey West Virginia we're coming here a couple times too so we can your guys now you got a broader the Nets a little bit be like hey Orlando this you're gonna play here twice during your career right like it's one of those things where it's a weird sort of thought where Utah like I'd never in a million years would be like Utah UCF conference Rivals let's go like doesn't make sense in my head Colorado West Virginia conference Rivals doesn't make sense but here we are and so I thought that was a really interesting point as well I saw recently um what's another challenge before I move on is there any sort of challenge I guess that stands out to you that isn't getting enough attention like it doesn't have to be the new conference it doesn't have to be like the brand itself like is there anything else specifically that the Big 12 is dealing with right now that you think is a challenge for Utah and Colorado it'll be some of the travel that they make for Utah going all the way out to that UCF game late in the season right especially if you know they're they're in a spot where they want to be right do you get you know just you get off the plane and they'll get there more than enough days in advance but long season that travel uh just maybe more fatigue setting in being that far away I think I think we will see not as much Utah hopefully not Colorado because I do think this season will go better but if there's some years where these teams have really rough go and they have like their last two games are far away road trips I think we'll really see a lot of these teams pack it in because I just don't think they'll really want to be there so I think it's a huge issue for Utah or Colorado this year but I do think you know just being jetlagged out of your comfort zone like those things could potentially apply if we see and I mean just teams play differently than they do at home versus the road when it goes back to that climate thing we talked about look at Utah's game at Florida the Anthony Richardson game a couple years ago was the worst I've ever seen that Utah defense play Then fast forward fast or fast forward a little bit to last year's Florida game that Florida team looked horrendous coming out to Salt Lake City because they weren't used to the altitude uh and just it was just a total culture shock a new venue everything so the game of football is always one where you're fac it helps to have familiarity with an opponent and Utah Colorado won't have that with a lot of their opponents this season and they won't be familiar to their atmospheres their routine will be different and thrown off so when we see those uncharacteristic uh performances out of these teams I gotta believe that's going to be part of the reason why is just out of their comfort zone yeah and I think I honestly I love the point about travel because I don't think it gets enough attention like I think realistically we've seen like the memes about Cal and UCLA where it's like they're traveling 30,000 miles and it's like oh my gosh like how how could they but then everyone else is traveling far too I won't say it's that far but like uh you look at Utah and Colorado like Colorado three of their first five games are on the road they go to Nebraska at Colorado state which isn't too far it's up the road a little bit in Fort Collins and then they go to UCF and then you look at Utah and obviously they have two home games to open up the year and then it's like okay right into it away game at Utah State again right up the road and then you're going to Oklahoma State where it's like okay a little further right and so I think it could definitely add up a little bit in terms of travel and I think that could play a role in terms of fatigue and God forbid injuries because when guys get injured or guys get tired they get injured but I do think that there's a lot of factors that are working with the big 12 but I also think that there's some factors that are working against them and so really like the point that you made about travel is there anything like brand exposure wise that you could see hurting the Big 12 I mean they're not the SEC and the Big 10 if that's I mean just like the first thing that jumps jumps in my head like I think our I think it was our recruiting analyst here at lock on literally said like when you talk to recruits they want to go to the Big 10 the SEC that's obviously their first choice so branding wise that's where it that and I think that's even more drastic now Big 10 SEC than it was when the Pack 12 was a thing the Pack 12 and Big 12 of course they're behind the Big 10 in SEC but like it was still like o go to USC go to Oregon and hey look this Oregon team's beat them recently so or this Utah team's beaten Oregon in USC recently so like those are some attractive schools and he and I don't think Colorado will suffer for this because of the Dion effect but like I think for Utah in some ways some guys are like H I don't know if I want to go to a to a big 12 school when I could go to the other ones and obviously the other from a not as much branding but a dollar sign the nil differences between the SEC and big 10 schools and Big 12 schools is drastic right so it's one of those things where the big 12 just has to stay consistent has to figure out a way to I think the the thing that could help the Big 12 the most is a certain program whether it's Colorado or Utah stepping up and being sort of that face of the program contending for not only the conference because everyone's contending for the conference if you will but contending for a title and we're going to talk about that and conference-- wise title wise when we come back but first a word from our spons us over at eBay Motors passion drive and patience formula for winning championships is also what keeps your ride or die alive eBay Motors has everything you need to maintain your vehicle and leveled up to Peak Performance superchargers roof racks exhaust kits LED headlights and more whether you're in speed power or style eBay Motors has you covered um with over 122 million parts for your number one Rider die you always find exactly what you're looking for and with eBay guaranteed fit your part is guaranteed to fit your ride or your money back because with eBay Motors you're burning not cash with all the parts you need at the prices you want it's easy to make your car the MVP and bring home huge wins keep your rer die live at ebaymotors.com eligible items only exclusions apply again that's ebaymotors.com eBay guaranteed fit is only available to us customers welcome back to locked on Buffs and we have a special guest joining us from locked on UT JT from locked on H JT let's talk about contending in the Big 12 what that looks like for Utah I imagine it's very different for Colorado like we'll call I'll put I'll call spade a spade if Colorado's contending for the Big 12 title next year I think that would surprise a lot of people like I think a lot of people expect them to sort of be slightly better but not contention level better so what does it mean for Utah to sort of be in a position to still contend in a new conference but they obviously have a little more pressure wouldn't you say oh they undoubtedly have there's a lot of pressure If Utah doesn't win the Big 12 it's a disappointment if they're not in the champ ship game it's a major disappointment to me there I think some people Big 12 fans look at Utah being favored and they're like how could this be they just got in the conference like they're looking at it from that perspective what they don't realize is there's only one quarterback in college football who's won two Conference titles that's still in school that's Cam Rising they don't realize Brant keithy has had two seasons over 600 yards it's wild that one of those also came back in 2019 I will say but like that's just like you know veteran experience is a big thing so you got that you got a former thousand yard receiver and Dorian singer you got an offensive line that has a few some questions but like it's still even like the questions I have about Utah offensive line I feel better because of the coaching there and the consistent play I saw last year even a little bit of a Down year than obviously Colorado was big offensive line questions when you're bringing transfers and recruits in all over that are trying to make a big impact right away so that's why you feel better about the Utah offensive line Utah is always going to run the ball well pretty much everyone's back except for their top pass rusher and Jonah Ellis from a top five run defense a year ago so you know the defense will be there and Utah is not DBU say LSU Ohio State some of those teams in the past they're the next best thing though so I do expect even though you lose a son vaky and a Cole Bishop that defensive backfield would be good because we've seen Utah time and time again and same thing with their offensive line they lose NFL cber players and they replace those guys with quality guys there are over six players on this Utah team that were key parts of the 2021 Pack 12 championship team and they're still there so when you have that level of yeah when you have that level of experience you're going to be you're going to be favored to win the conference and I think the media got it right so we'll go fill in the blank exercise here I'll start off just so I can give you an idea if you if Utah kend I will be not surprised right like it's just if Utah that's my that's my fil in the blank by the way not surprised two words it's like they have the quarterback they have the trench play they have the weapons at receiver I think as someone who covers Utah closely and you know this as well they have some really sneaky good receivers like obviously you mentioned Dorian singer that's the the headliner but I'm really excited to see what Alfred does a Syracuse transfer who 6 foot6 and he moves he can move he could Scoot a little bit and then 19 yards per catch last year right and like you have a guy like money Parks you have guys like uh Pitman who from what I've been kind of hearing and seeing is he's improved right he's feels like he's been there forever at least been in college forever but way back with Cam Rising too those guys played together when they were growing up so it's like they have sneaky weapons and so I think Utah has all the pieces plus coaching is a big factor they have all the pieces to succeed and contend so give me a feel in- the blank for Colorado if Colorado contends for the Big 12 title you will be blank I would be surprised I'm not GNA say fall over my chair shocked because of what I said earlier about shador Sanders when you have the best quarterback in a conference you will always be in games and shador is maybe the best quarterback in college football right I feel like it's him and Carson Beck right up there too but when you look at I mean obviously all the things shador did not have last year with the offensive line and that's where because shador is there because Travis Hunter is there and there's some strong receivers there a couple other strong positioned players there where I'm like okay I think that they can be up there towards the top but the offensive line was such a disaster last year can they take that much of a step forward to be like okay we're beat we're in this against the best teams in the conference week in and week out I do think some people forget that this Colorado team almost beat a really good Arizona team last year so we know they're capable of going in and getting some upsets but unfortunately they're also capable of last year they lost that game to Stanford which they had no business losing so that's why I think to me it's too early to call them a contender but if they're in it I think they're getting bow eligible this year and if they were in it towards the end of the year if they were one of the top I can see a world where they're one of the top four teams in this conference because they have two of the best players in the sport and one of them plays the most important position in the sport yeah I definitely I I wanted to ask you that because I feel like when I say I think Colorado has potential people are like ah this guy he he loves Colorado like he's gonna say that it's like okay I I do think that they improved enough to where there's a possibility and I don't think people realize this if you've been following the Pack 12 because the Pack 12 I would say for for the most part the picture would be settled towards the end of the year there was some Seasons where it's like there's four teams that could still make like two years ago Washington I think they went 10- two on the year or 11- two on the year and they didn't make the Pack 12 title game just because of who they lost to right so there's instances like that but as someone who covered and grew up watching Texas there were a lot of moments in the Big 12 and years past where was like okay it's week 10 Texas can make the big 12 Championship if this team loses this team wins this team loses and I do think that the Big 12 now which we'll talk about in a little bit is going to be very similar to that so if you told me in October that Colorado is a couple teams losing and them winning a game away like I wouldn't be shocked at all also I like that that you brought up the Arizona game Colorado was a victim of one- score games last year they lost to Utah which that was an ugly game for both teams um by six points they lost to Arizona by three points uh they lost to let's see Stanford by three points in double overtime they lost to USC by a touchdown so that's four games right there that if they win those you go from four and eight to eight and four and that's a big jump so a lot a lot of things could happen for both teams I do think that of the two i' probably if I had a bet I think Utah would be the one to be in the Big 12 Championship but JT give me like a a likeliness from one being not likely at all to 10 being very likely or like it's going to to happen that the Big 12 Championship this year is played by is played between two former Pack 12 teams well it's a really good question I do think Utah is gonna be in there I do think when you're ranking the top four teams in this conference I think Utah is the only Pack 12 school in that I think Arizona would had a chance at that if Jed fish didn't leave but unfortunately some of those departures pulled them back and of the schools like I think Arizona is the next best like chance of the Pack 12 schools I have Colorado third there because yes I think is the best quarterback in this conference I think Noah fed is really good I don't think he gets enough attention and hype as he should so I think he's right up there too um but yeah I will go with a six I'll go with six that it's both I think it's just over halfway there but I still think I look at I expect it to be Utah versus Kansas State right now but if you're telling me Arizona State got there and once again if Colorado was there I'm surprised I'm not like falling out of my chair surprised we we see this time and time again in college football team surprises TCU wasn't supposed to make that run Utah started their season one and two in 2021 before cam took over and they made a run to the Pack 12 championship games and this Colorado team has players that are more talented on paper than that Utah team did now can all the things come together that's what we have to see but I just I can't be like this team has no shot to do anything this year I don't see it that way yeah that that Utah season by the way never never in my million years of life would I have thought that Kyle woodingham would fall for the Jake Bentley hype like or not the um oh my gosh what was his name the quarterback Charlie Brewer Charlie jley the year before and then it was Charlie Brewer Char Brewer yeah the Charlie Brewer hype where it was just like ah this guy's so good and it's like no he's not though he's not we learn right yeah you learn the hard way it's one of those things where uh but now both teams have great quarterbacks so we'll see how well that does for them when we come back we're gonna be talking about the biggest difference between the Pack 12 and the Big 12 for both Colorado and Utah but first a word from our sponsor over at fandu I love sports I love them so much I never want them to stop but as a playoffs wind down we get fewer games and the sports aren't sporting like we want them to but FanDuel lets me keep the sports going whenever I want all I have to do is open the app and dream up any bet anytime I'm in the mood and this summer FanDuel is hooking up all customers with a boost or bonus daily that's right there's something for everyone every day all summer long so head over to fanduel.com start making the most out of your summer FanDuel is official sports betting partner of Major League Baseball welcome back to lock on Buffs I appreciate you guys for tuning in every single day making me your first listen of the day we're free and available wherever you get your podcast my every dares you know who you are you harass me in the comments every single day and I love you guys for it I appreciate you guys couldn't do it without you JT from lock on Utes we're talking about the big difference between the Pack 12 and the Big 12 we talked about it off air and I'll sort of give the people at least some insight into what my thought process was I think the Pack 12 at its best was better than the Big 12 at least what at least what we saw last year right Oklahoma at its best was better than what the Pack 12 was putting out there but last year the Pack 12 at its best was better than the Big 12 but you look at the big 12 and I think any team could be any team and that's not just me saying that like legitimately any team in the conference could be any team and I think I think even though it's not as good it's more competitive from top to bottom would you agree with that I think I would agree with that I think you going back to the point about the top of the pack I look at Utah um Arizona with the way they came on you know Washington Oregon it just felt like there were so many teams last year that were in the mix of it and it's why it was Oregon State one of the best Washington State earlier in the year before they fell off a cliff um one of those conferences where it just felt like there were so many teams that could really win the whole thing versus the big 12 was okay handful of teams that can win the whole thing but more teams that can upset you there was there's to me there's not an Arizon there wasn't an Arizona State in like the big 12 last year right where was just like okay we know this is pretty much gonna go right and I know Arizona state every once in a while would pull a rabbit out of their hat and find away but like it really like I mean Utah beat them 55 to3 for example like this year in the Big 12 I look at more of these games and well I expect Utah to beat Iowa State okay Iowa State's more than capable of beating Utah how about probably right yeah a by you it's a rivalry game so even though I don't expect the Cougars to be great this year it's like okay let get interesting a TCU Utah's good at home but I've seen the horn frogs pull off some miraculous Feats as well too so it's different than when like you caught you know or Arizona a few years ago before Jed fish turned them around I mean that team was towards the bottom of the conference Cal has gone through their ups and downs too so just felt like the bottom Dells of the pack a couple of those years it was just like all right yeah we get to steamroll this team this week versus in the Big 12 and the Pack 12 in times would cannibalize itself but it felt like it was the same teams eating each other alive versus this year UCF can play sport there's so many teams that I feel like on any given week can beat another one and while I'm high on you try to expect them to achieve big things and avoid those ugly losses that make your resume look really tainted it's definitely possible they falter multiple times because of this big 12 schedule which Big 12 team specifically like a new one that Utah hasn't like played a lot so BYU is out of the question here which Big 12 team like worries you the most for like sort of being that one that pulls the rug out from under Utah or does like like knocks Utah out I think UCF that last week of the season the team that I think I said earlier I think Kansas State's the second best team in this conference but Utah one of the reasons I'm also very high on you know this year is their schedule like if they had to go to Kansas to Kansas State that's really tough not only they don't have to go to those places they miss both of them that's where unfortunately Colorado did not get the benefit of that I mean your guys' last three weeks of the season is a that's a that's a a rough welcome to the conference from BR Yark compared to what they uh they said Utah up for but um yeah going back to which team I think it's UCF right I look at KJ Jefferson he's a guy who man when he's on he's had some big moments throughout his college football career right it feels like they've recruited really well I saw something recently they're one of like they they had one of the better recruiting classes in all of the Big 12 I think they were the only Big 12 school with multiple four stars in a certain metric the last time I looked at that they have a thousand yard rusher back at running back a quality receiver their defense is full of transfers but by the time we play them in November I expect that defense to be looking their best rather than the first few weeks of the season when they're learning to play together that's the biggest one for me on Utah's schedule where Utah maybe the Oklahoma State game is the only one where they're not favored outside of that they'll be favored in every single game they play in my opinion UCF is the one that they're most likely to get upset in because this team's also lost at least one game on the road because it's just hard to go undefeated in a college football regular season too so ucf's the one I got my eye on I honestly this is like a hot take but I think outside of like an SEC team like a Georgia or a Texas where it's like they are just like the best team in college football I don't think there's going to be many undefeated teams in college football anymore and if there is it's going to come from a coference like the big 12 or the ACC because I don't think they got like like the SEC was already the deepest conference in college football and then you add a Texas program that's peaking as high as it's like Texas hasn't been good since 2010 2009 like they've they were mediocre to bad to H to like pretending they were back now they're good and you add that to a conference that's already Elite that's dangerous it's going to be hard I think they're going to canalize theirselves themselves and then the Big 10 I think outside of the big three which is Utah or Utah um maybe someday actually you never know I feel like Utah would love to go to the Big 10 um but Ohio State Michigan Penn State I would say outside of those it was already hard to see someone go undefeated now you add UCL or USC Oregon and Washington it's going to get more difficult so the Big 12 I feel like is the one conference that could consistently produce someone that could go undefeated U I'm gonna answer my own question and talk about a team that scares scares me the most for Colorado and it's actually same week as UCF Utah um I'm going final week of the Season Oklahoma State because and let me tell you it's because of one man Oly Gordon assuming he doesn't get um in trouble again and he's not missing any time which Mike Gundy already said the best way to punish him is to give him more carries I don't know how that makes sense but sure um right like the only way to help to punish him is to help his Heisman case sure I guess I yeah I mean we could spend an hour talking about some of the things Mike Gundy said right I'm a man I'm 40 that was the crazy part was that's like 10 years ago so I feel old I know I was like for I was like 14 when that happened now I'm like a legitimate now I'm like I am a man now like I'm not just a kid yeah but yeah I think Oklahoma State they just have the elite running back and Colorado last year they they struggled against teams that could run the ball effectively um even if they weren't like the best running teams when they played against Colorado every team could run the ball and so regardless of how much their defense has improved Oly Gordon kind of scares me just in the sense of like he's a complete running back probably the best in the country makes things a little worrisome for me about Colorado but I do think and it's for Utah I would say this kind of applies and it's not meant to it's not meant to be condescending but I do it's going to come off as condescending though I think both programs Colorado and Utah have better chances to be the best team in the Big 12 than they do in the Pack 12 consistently on a year-to-year basis would you agree with that no 10,00% because why was Utah better than USC because Utah I my bad why yeah why was Utah better than USC because USC was going through a major like identity struggle like Klay Hilton just was not working out same thing with you know Oregon some years right when Mario chrystall had his exit because he wanted to be in Miami like there were just some years with those programs where it was like they they need to get their stuff together like they're having issues even when in a couple times they still had good years but their ceiling was so much higher than what Utah's was that's not the case in this new conference everyone none of the none of these schools there's a reason they are where they're they're not in the Big 10 SEC everyone wanted to go to those two conferences they were leftovers they were left out in that regard because at least right now their ceiling is not as high yes Utah's won recently but their history is not at USC or in Oregon so there is no clear-cut Powerhouse program in this conference Colorado's got potential to do that Utah has potential Kansas state has potential too but the key word in that is potential there is no one that has the level of a program where year in and year out you expect Excellence to any of those big 10 schools or any of those Pack 12 schools that are now in the Big 10 or especially like a Texas and Oklahoma that now left so I think you're absolutely right that it both suits Utah and Colorado better in their current conference because they're not going with some of against some of the top programs top 10 programs in the sport yeah sometimes change is good and I think change is going to work out really well for Colorado and Utah JT thank you for joining us tell the people where they could find you what you're working on yeah make sure you guys head over to my ex account at JT Wister sill as well as you can give me a follow at lockon you talking all things Utah football and getting ready for what feels like the most anticipated season in uh Utah history with all the hype they got going around good be K Winningham last year it should be a fun ride Uh Kevin always stops by from time to time too and Kevin it was great stopping by on this one thanks for having me on yeah thanks for joining us this has been another great episode of lockt on Buffs