No. 24 Utah (6-2, 3-2) vs. No. 17 Cincinnati (7-1, 5-0)
- Kickoff: Saturday, 8:15 p.m. MDT
- Venue: Rice-Eccles Stadium (Salt Lake City)
- TV: ESPN
- Livestream: Watch ESPN
- Radio: ESPN 700 AM/92.1 FM
- Series: First meeting.
- Weather: Clear skies with temperatures in the mid 50s at kickoff, falling to the high 40s by end of game.
The trends
For Utah: The Utes bounced back from a loss at BYU to rout Colorado last week, 53-7. In their six wins this year, Utah has outscored its opposition by an average score of 46.7 to 9.3.
The Utes play twice at home and twice on the road over the final month of the season, with a bye next week. Over those final four games, Utah is favored in every single one in ESPN’s analytics-based projection model, with at least a 76% chance of winning or higher in every single contest.
For Cincinnati: The Bearcats have won seven straight after losing by three to the Big Ten’s Nebraska in a neutral-site matchup in the season opener. While Cincinnati won its first three Big 12 games by nine points or fewer — including a 38-30 win over then-unbeaten Iowa State — the Bearcats have scored in the 40s and won by 21 or more in their last two games.
Like Utah, Cincinnati has four games remaining — two at home and two on the road. Unlike the Utes, the Bearcats are viewed as underdogs in three of those games in ESPN’s analytical model.
What to watch for
Utah’s offense was humming last week when true freshman Byrd Ficklin got his first start in place of an injured Devon Dampier. Ficklin ran for 151 yards, accounted for 291 yards and three touchdowns, and led a Utes offense that put up 422 rushing yards and 587 total.
Dampier is expected to return this week for Utah. Between his success through most of this season and Ficklin’s ability to step up when called upon, the Utes’ QB situation, while it’s had availability questions, looks like a strength no matter who may be called upon.
While the Bearcats’ rush defense isn’t as bad as Colorado’s, which is last in the Big 12, Cincinnati is middle of the pack in the league in that regard. That should give Utah some confidence, considering how deep the Utes are at running options.
Wayshawn Parker is coming off his first 100-yard game as a Ute — he ran for 145 yards and a touchdown against Colorado — and Daniel Bray ran for over 100 two weeks ago against BYU.
Offensively, Cincinnati is dead last (136th) in the Football Bowl Subdivision in time of possession, yet they are 13th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 38.3 points per game.
Behind quarterback Brendan Sorsby, the Bearcats rely on efficiency to wear down their opponents. Sorsby leads all Big 12 quarterbacks in ESPN’s QBR ratings, at 84.8.
This will be the toughest rushing attack the Utes have faced all season. Cincinnati, though, will be without leading rusher Evan Pryor, due to injury.
Can fellow back Tawee Walker and Sorsby pick up the slack for Cincinnati?
Key players
John Henry Daley and Logan Fano, DE: How much pressure Utah can get on Sorsby will likely be a major factor in the matchup.
Cincinnati comes into the game tied for first nationally in sacks allowed, giving up just two so far this season, or 0.25 per game.
Utah, meanwhile, is ninth in the country in generating sacks. The Utes have 25, averaging 3.13 per game, and had seven last week against Colorado.
That is led by Daley, who is third nationally with 9.5 sacks on the year, just one behind Texas Tech’s David Bailey, who has a nation-leading 10.5.
Daley has 13.5 tackles for loss this season, also third in the country, and is a big reason behind Utah being one of the Big 12’s best in third-down defense, allowing opposing teams to convert just 30.1% of the time.
Fano also plays a big role in this — his three sacks and five tackles for loss are second on the team.
Sorsby is adept at throwing the ball away when needed, or tucking the ball and picking up yards on the ground.
If Utah can get to him at times, though, that could be enough to get Cincinnati’s offense out of rhythm.
Quotable
“They have an outstanding home field advantage in that stadium. Coach (Kyle) Whittingham has been there a long time, his 22nd year as the head coach, and has implemented a lot of great ball there over the years, especially defensively.
“I think Utah is kind of known for that this year, they have an outstanding offense, and they’re able to run the football and keep a lot of pressure on the defense. I think obviously it’ll be a tough challenge for us, but we’re looking forward to it.” — Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield
“Cincinnati coming in here, red-hot team. Had the tough loss in the opener, right down to the wire with Nebraska and since rattled off seven wins in a row. They’re playing exceptionally good football. The quarterback is a big, strong kid, dual threat, can run, can throw. They’re an 11 personnel team 75% of the time, mixed in with some 12 and that 3-3-5 on defense that a lot of people are playing.
“... Another 8:15 kickoff, so night game for our fans. Our fans seem to love to come out to those night games, so we’re looking forward to another great environment. The environment last week was terrific. It was a homecoming crowd and can’t say enough positive things about our fans, The MUSS, the band. It was all going on on Saturday night, so we need to repeat that this coming weekend.” — Utah coach Kyle Whittingham
Next up
- Utah: at Baylor
- Cincinnati: vs. Arizona
Utah schedule
- Aug. 30 — at UCLA, W 43-10
- Sept. 6 — vs. Cal Poly, W 63-9
- Sept. 13 — at Wyoming, W 31-6
- Sept. 20 — vs. Texas Tech, L 34-10
- Sept. 27 — at West Virginia, W 48-14
- Oct. 11 — vs. Arizona State, W 42-10
- Oct. 18 — at BYU, L 24-21
- Oct. 25 — vs. Colorado, W 53-7
- Nov. 1 — vs. Cincinnati
- Nov. 15 — at Baylor
- Nov. 22 — vs. Kansas State
- Nov. 28 — at Kansas