The 2024 season kicks off for the Utah Utes tonight at home against the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds, and while most are expecting it to be a walk in the park for the Big 12 favorite, nothing can be taken for granted in college football.
So, here are three keys to victory for Kyle Whittingham and Co.
Key #1 - Avoid Mistakes
This one may be pretty obvious, but against a team like SUU, a bigger program may get complacent, expecting a walk in the park to kick off the campaign. However, Utah HC Kyle Whittingham has been harping on executing a clean game in the lead-up to the Thursday night bout.
"A clean football game; executing the way that we should execute. Limiting penalties. The whole mechanism of substitution, special teams functions. Everything in the whole operation needs to be clean. And that's what we're really looking for. No delay of games, minimize false starts, just those sloppy penalties that can show up particularly early in the season. We'd like to get off to a great start on all that stuff," Whittingham said when asked about what matters in the game besides a win.
This game, while seemingly easy on paper, still needs to be treated as any other game, especially since it serves as the launching pad for the rest of the campaign.
Key #2 - Run The Ball
Fans will want fireworks in this game, long passes, trick plays, and a scoreline that could be only replicated in EA Sports College Football 25. However, we know what the passing game is capable of, a fully healthy Cam Rising throwing to the best set of receivers the program has ever fielded is bound to succeed.
Meanwhile, the running game is up in the air. The team realistically has three starting RBs in Micah Bernard, Jaylon Glover, and Mike Mitchell and this game serves as the perfect time to refine the committee approach and figure out which role each RB will serve during the early part of the season.
Focusing on the run game will not only eliminate gameplan questions moving forward, but it will also give an offensive line unit that was shaky at times in 2023 a chance to create holes and sit people down early on, giving them confidence and cohesion moving forward.
Key #3 - Aggressive Defense
Morgan Scalley and Kyle Whittingham are known to instill a gritty, aggressive identity within Utah football, and last season was no different. Despite having a down season, the Utes fielded one of the best defenses in the country, and while the unit is looking a lot different in 2024, the core principles are still well entrenched.
Scalley's defensive focus has been on turnovers this offseason, and with a slew of top coverage talent in the defensive back and linebacker room, the defense should execute that focus at an impressive rate this season.
But, with new faces taking the field for the first time in a Utah uniform, nerves are going to be running wild, and the best way to shake those nerves is to play aggressively. Look to aggressively cause turnovers, look to crash the pocket, and plug running lanes on every single play. If they sit back, the nerves will get to them, but if they go for it from the jump, there's no time to focus on the nerves, and while there may be mistakes, there will be just as many big plays for everyone to celebrate.
Related: Three Utah Players to Look Out For Against Southern Utah University
Related: Joel Klatt has High Praise for Cam Rising Entering this Season
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