JAMAL ANDERSON SHOWS HIS BIG PLAY CAPABILITIES

The Utes first round draft pick, Jamal Anderson didn't have a good training camp and will not be the player that Utah had hoped for when they took him in the first round. But he still is going to be really good. He has excellent speed and acceleration. He showed some of that in last nights 27-13 win over the Miami Hurricanes here in Salt Lake City.

On the Utes first play from scrimmage, he took a swing pass 70 yards down the sideline to the house for 6. Then, at the start of the second half he took a hand off, found a gap off tackle and was gone 71 yards this time for a score.

"It was just doing what I always do" Anderson said in the post game press conference. "It was nice to show the team what I can do and the coaches as well". For his efforts he was picked for the "Players of the Week". Congrats to the Rookie on that accomplishment. "The individual awards are nice, but i'm the type of guy that looks at the scoreboard. I want to win football games, how ever I can help to do that, i'll do that." added Anderson at the press conference.

On the defensive side of the ball, the DE's were a factor in the game. Any time Miami tried to throw deep, someone was there to not let the Miami QB be comfortable. Then with the quality of CB's the Utes have, teams should not be throwing deep on Utah. If they do, hopefully the Utes can punish them with either a sack or an interception.

It was a good game all around for Utah. A couple of fumbles that we will work on in practice this week before next weeks last pre season game in Athens, Georgia.

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS FROM ANNAPOLIS

The Utes traveled back east to Annapolis, Maryland to take on the Midshipmen from Navy to start out the 2025 Season. The Utes defense held the Midshipmen to 9 points the whole game.

That's the good news.............

Now for the bad.........

The Utes offense was shut down by Navy only managing 109 yards and 0 points. Most of their possessions went 3 and out.

Alex Smith went 19/27 with 2 Picks. Rookie RB Jamal Anderson, in his 1st College game wasn't able to break any runs or receptions. He ran 10/35 yards and caught 5 passes for 40 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball Vince Ramsay, Asa Williams and Darrell Bogan each had 6 tackles to lead. Eugene Alley had a QB sack. The defensive effort was overshadowed by the lethargic effort by the Utes offense.

The Utes need to get things working because this is homecoming week with the big game going against the more than capable of putting up points and shutting down opposing offenses UCLA. They beat Oregon 37-0 and put 2 players on the "Players of the Week" list.

The Utes will practice as normal for the Bruins.

UTES GET THE BIG HOMECOMING WIN

The 2025 Homecoming weekend was a success for the Utes, getting the big win over Conference rival's UCLA 9-6 with a FG as time expired. The league win was also new A.D. Sid Allison's first PAC 12 South win. "I couldn't be more proud of the players, well if they could score a touchdown, that would probably be better, But a win is a win and the guys deserve to be able to feel good about themselves." said the A.D.

The Utes have the 4th best defense in the Nation (yards from scrimmage) they have not given up a TD so far this season. The Utes offense is dead last and that needs to be addressed.

Alex Smith had a good game but it looks like he may need to take some more chances downfield on the passing game he was 31/37 but only had 156 yards on all those completed passes. Greer was the man. He caught 15 passes for 54 yards out of the backfield. He also ran 12 times for 22 yards.

On defense, both the Ute defensive ends got to the Bruins QB once. Eugene Alley also forced a fumble. It was an excellent all around effort by the defense.

Next game the Wolverines from Michigan will be up on the hill here in Salt Lake City. Let's come on out to the game and support this team.

UTES LET LEAD SLIP AWAY, LOSE TO MICHIGAN

The Utes hosted the Wolverines here in Salt Lake City and things were going pretty well in the game going into the 4th quarter. They had scored the first touchdown of the season, and had a 10-6 lead.

But Michigan came back on a 13-0 4th quarter and got the win 19-10.

Alex Smith went 21/28 for only 97 yards. He took 8 sacks. He had 1 TD and 1 interception.
Johnathan Greer was his preferred target when he had time. 5/33 with a TD in the air, and a nice day running the football 16/108. "It was nice to get the 100 yards and the touchdown" Greer said in post game press. "But it doesn't mean anything to me if the team loses."

On d, Bogan led with 9 tackles. Paul Kruger and Eugene Alley had a sack a piece.

The Utes suffered some injuries in the Michigan game and the team is pretty banged up for the game in Palo Alto against Stanford. LDE Alley, Mercury Gambler, Miller, and Koa Misi all sustained injuries last week.

The Utes go on the road for 3 straight starting tonight vs Stanford.

UTES PLAY IN THE HISTORIC ROSE BOWL

Utah was in Pasadena, California to take on UCLA in the historic Rose Bowl. The people of Southern California are behind the Bruins as a near capacity crowd of 104,878 was there to watch the game.

Utah was feeling pretty good about their chances, even in the hostile environment because of the return of Jamal Anderson and Utah's win over the Bruins in Week 2.

The jitters did get to the Utes, on the second play from scrimmage Alex Smith fumbled and that set up UCLA at the Utah 14. The got the 7 out of it and the early lead 7-0. Utah settled down and the teams played to a 10-10 tie going into the break.

Utah came out and put up a FG on their first possession of the second half but couldn't do any more. The Bruins kicked 3 FG's and won the game 19-13.

The Utes gave up some long pass plays that otherwise was a very stout defensive effort. The Utes held the Bruins to 0/10 3rd down conversions and the time of possession Utah dominated 39 to 20 minutes. If the Utes can keep up those last two stats and not give up the long pass play, they will be difficult for anyone to beat.

Alex Smith played okay besides the fumble. He was sacked 6 times though. Jamal Anderson ran 7/40 and 8/31 catching the ball. Greer saw the bulk of the work, 18 carries for 40 yards, with a TD, and 2 catches for 20 yards.

On defense, the whole team played well, James Sever led the team in tackles with 7.

The Utes are now 1-4 but are a better team than the record suggests.

UTES GET A WIN IN LEXINGTON

The Utes were in Lexington, Kentucky to take on the Wildcats in Commonwealth Stadium, an unfriendly place for the boys.

Alex Smith played a great game completing 30 of 40 passes to 10 different Utes for 338 yards, 3 Touchdowns, and just 1 pick. The Utes jumped out early and held on for the 26-17 win.

On the Defensive side Eugene Alley and Paul Kruger got to the QB. 5 different Utes had 5 tackles a piece in the team effort.

The Utes head down to Los Angeles and the historic Los Angeles Coliseum to take on the undefeated Trojans next.

LENCHO WICKS KICKS IT UP A NOTCH VS UTAH

Washington State was in Salt Lake City to have a sample of the "Greatest Snow on Earth" and to play the Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. WSU, being no stranger to playing in the snow, came prepared.

Lencho Wicks carried the Cougars to a 12-6, all FG victory. The chances were there for Utah but the team failed to capitalize on the chances.

This sets up the Arizona game here in Utah. If it does keep snowing Utah will be at an advantage as Tuscon doesn't get any. Who ever loses this football game finishes last in the division, so there is a lot to prepare for and plenty of motivation. The Utes would like to keep their name off the bottom of final standings.

UTAH BEATS ARIZONA TO FINISH 2025 IN 3RD PLACE

Utah's 10-3 win over Arizona completes the 2025 season with a dismal record of 5-11. As bad as it looks, it is Utah A.D. Sid Allison's best finish here in NCAA Division 1 Football.

"I will take any win we can get, even the pre season games. This league is tough week in and week out and it doesn't matter who you play or who you have lining up for you. If you don't put in the prep, you're gonna see it in the final score." he stated in post game interviews.

The Utes will lose some players this season to graduation. Guard Ralph Rodgers, Tackle Randy Miller, G James Said, DT Larry Murphy, CB Dante Vaughn, and FS Kenneth Andrews will be ineligible to play in Utah as of now.

2025 will not go down as an offensive season as only 1 Ute record was broken. Alex Smith threw for a school best 73.1% completion percentage.

QB Alex Smith 407/557 73.1% for 3,158 yards, 12 TD and 14 picks. He was sacked more than I thought needed to be mentioned. Alex had a 83.31 rating.

RB Greer led the team 129/509 yards with 2 TD's. Anderson 123/507 with 2 TD's. Jamal Anderson missed a few games due to injury.

WR Ty Barrett led the team with 67 grabs for 545 yards and only 1 TD.

Darrell Bogan, the outstanding CB led the team in tackles with 97.

DE's Eugene Alley and Paul Kruger had a pretty good season gobbling up the opposing QB's . Alley 15 sacks and Kruger 13.

Looking back on the season the Utes were only beaten real badly once. That came against a tough Washington Huskies team. (well.....the game in Tuscon went bad quickly) All the other games saw opportunities to win but for one reason or another didn't manifest. The team did have some quality wins. In Lexington, the first game against UCLA were some of the high points in the season with too few of them. But that's the way things go in such a competitive league.

The Utes will be back next season, hopefully with some improvements and looking to build upon the 5 wins we had this year.