This article was first published as the Ute Insiders newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Wednesday night.
The countdown is on. Or continues, depending on your level of fandom.
One week from today, the Utes will kick off the 2021 season at home against Weber State at the expanded Rice-Eccles Stadium.
It’s been a long offseason and it’s been even longer since Utah, and most college football programs, have been able to stage a full season.
Here’s to hoping that this season is a “normal” one, without cancellations and other disruptions.
And there’s plenty going on at Utah, and in the Pac-12, as a new campaign dawns.
Coach Kyle Whittingham released the depth chart Thursday, which answered the question everyone has been waiting for: Who is the Utes’ starting quarterback? Baylor transfer Charlie Brewer earned the starting nod over Cam Rising.
Meanwhile, the Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC announced Tuesday they have created an alliance to help combat the SEC, which will be adding Texas and Oklahoma in the coming years.
Also Tuesday, the Utes unveiled World War II-inspired uniforms.
Well, the wait is almost over. Kickoff is almost upon us. And not a moment too soon.
Numbers game
87: Total touchdowns thrown for, and run for, by quarterback Charlie Brewer at Baylor.
1,039: Rushing yards gained by Brewer at Baylor.
9,700: Passing yards accumulated by Brewer at Baylor.
From the archives
Extra points
- Starting QB to be named soon (Deseret News)
- Does preseason poll matter? (Deseret News)
- Why Oklahoma transfer wide receiver Theo Howard chose Utah (Deseret News)
- MyKayla Skinner honored (Deseret News)
- Utah’s Pac-12 schedule pairings released (Deseret News)
Fanalyst
Comments from Deseret News readers
“The B1G runs the Alliance. ACC is terrified and incoherent, and PAC12 is just very happy to be good friends of the B1G from waaaay back. Upper Midwest understatement is coming out in this Alliance in spades. You get one of them riled up and they won’t say anything untoward, and will smile ... but they have long memories and rest assured they will have their revenge ... served nice and cold.”
— 96 U
“I have contemplated what it must have been like for Brewer to make the decision to leave the school he had been with for several years, move to another part of the country, to a new team ... and then to continue his quest to be a future draft pick and quarterback worthy of the NFL. He could have chosen several other schools. He chose the right one. Best of success to him and the Utes! A Cougar fan first ... but Go Utah!”
— top of the world
Up next
Aug. 27 | 6 p.m. | Volleyball | vs. Utah Valley University | @Orem
Sept. 2 | 5:30 p.m. | Football | vs. Weber State | @Rice-Eccles Stadium