Bowl season is upon us in the state of Utah. While today is a great day to focus on recruiting as it is national signing day I have decided to take a look at each bowl game in the state of Utah. It is awesome for the state’s reputation in college football to have all three major FBS teams be bowl eligible let’s take a look at their matchups.
Utah State
The Aggies will take on Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel independence bowl on Saturday. Earlier this year Kyle Whittingham called Oregon State the best offense in the Pac-12. The team averaged 32.7 points per game this season and averaged 430 yards per game.
Utah State meanwhile is coming off a tremendous defensive performance against San Diego State in the Mountain West championship game that saw them stymie the Aztec’s potent rushing attack. Oregon State is also a team that relies heavily on the run averaging five yards per attempt this season.
Defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda has this Utah State defense in the best form of the season going into this matchup. Of course the Aggie’s potent offense has been the story throughout the year, with Logan Bonner leading the way, now the all time single season passing touchdowns leader for the Aggies. Derek Wright has also put up tremendous games alongside Brandon Bowling down the stretch showing that this Aggie offense is more than just Devin Thompkins.
Utah State and head coach Blake Anderson and this Aggie team have the opportunity to get a huge win to wrap up an already impressive season. A win that should put the Aggies in conversation of being ranked going into next season as the Mountain West’s best team.
BYU
In bowl season, unfortunately, you can’t pick your opponent. After an incredible year and a huge extension for Kalani Sitake the Cougars find themselves facing UAB. While some have speculated BYU might be caught napping here I whole heartedly disagree.
To insinuate that Kalani Sitake won’t have his team hyped up for the bowl game and looking to finish business on an incredibly impressive season that has seen BYU finish within the top 15, would be a massive discredit to Sitake and his entire coaching staff. I refuse to believe BYU won’t be ready to go and blow the doors off an inferior Conference USA opponent.
The Cougars have higher aspirations though. If they win this game there is a legitimate chance they start next season in the top 15 as well. Next year the Cougars will face the likes of, Baylor, Notre Dame, Oregon, Utah State, Arkansas, and Boise State. If BYU can beat those teams and take care of inferior opponents like Dixie State and Liberty and avoid trap games like Stanford, they have a legitimate shot to battle for a New Year’s Six bowl and potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff. It all starts with taking care of business against UAB.
Utah
The Rose Bowl, the grand daddy of em’ all. When people talk about the pagentry of college football this is what they are referring to. Utah takes on Ohio State in this historic game on new years day. That means they also take on Heisman finalist C.J. Stroud. Stroud is not your typical college passer, this is an NFL level prospect throwing to three NFL wide receivers. This will be one of the biggest test the Kyle Whittingham defense has faced over the past few years.
One player that will most certainly be up to the challenge is Devin Lloyd, the top ten NFL prospect who will look to go in the top half of the first round of the NFL draft this year. Lloyd is a known commodity but the next great defender coming down from the hill within the next few years will star in this game as well, his name is Cole Bishop. The outstanding safety will look to further cement his role as an outstanding freshman on one of the best defenses in the country.
The key to beating Ohio State is using the Michigan gameplan. This is where we where Utah’s offensive line matches up with some of the best trenches in the country, namely in the Big-10. If Utah can run the ball and keep the ball out of the hands of Stroud they have a great chance of winning the game and finishing in the top 7 in the end.
Utah, like BYU has a way to catapult themselves into the national discussion by winning this game. It’s hard to believe but next year could be even better for the state of Utah in football if these bowl games go well. Not to mention the impact they will have on recruiting especially for Utah which will have the eyes of the whole nation on them on New Year’s Day.