The Utes found themselves in Florida for the 1st of 2 games to start out 2024. The opposition this week, Florida St. Seminoles.

The Utes came out a little tense or rusty and Florida St. put up 21 first quarter points and it looked like it was going to be a rough night. The Utes slowed down the Seminoles and put up some points themselves but FSU got the win 31-17.

The Utes Freshman QB Alex Smith looked like it was his first college game. Good reason for that, it was. He took 10 sacks. His line ended up 16/47 for 387 yards, 10 sacks for -83 yards, 2 TD, O interceptions, and a 78.95 passer rating. All in all, I feel it was a good outing for the youngster and he will get better with time.

The Utes Defensive unit (after the 1st Quarter) played some good football. Eugene Alley especially, he had a 9 tackle, 5 sacks night. We hope to see a lot of that from Alley. James Server had a **** of a ballgame as well with a pick and a forced fumble. CB Bogan had an interception too.

The Utes had a couple of guys get banged up. DT Thomas and TE Cornett are undecided if they will be able to go next week.

The team will now travel to Gainsville for the week of practices. The Utes A.D. feels like taking them down to South Florida may not be in our best interest. There is a lot going on in Miami and we want our team to focus on football, not chasing women.

Next week @ Miami, they call themselves the "U", we call ourselves the "U". What's the problem with that you ask? In today's world there is enough "U" for two teams to have it., to make it equal and fair and share, share a like. If that's how it is, the commish should just hand out participation trophy's and we can get together and read Oprah's book of the Week and knit some doilies instead of playing football. I don't think so..........win or lose, there is only gonna be 1 U. Let's see if is us or them.

ALMOST, BUT NOT QUITE....MIAMI (Fla) 19 UTAH 17

Utah went down to South Florida for the second of their Florida swing to play the Miami Hurricanes. The game played out differently than the game vs FSU and the Utes had a chance to steal the win. But it was not to be, Miami 19, Utah 17.

So I guess the "U" is Miami and not Utah.

The Ute QB, in his 2nd college game took 7 sacks but he went 17/36 for 300 yards. For a kid just out of high school it's not too bad. He had 2 TD's and 1 pick. WR Ty Barrett had a heck of a ballgame out there 8/173 yards and 2 TD's.

The Utes defense only allowed 1 TD. They had an awesome goal line stand that started with Miami being 1st and Goal at the Utah 0. Even in the loss, the Utah defense should be commended if not heralded for the work they did down there.

Neal Shack forced a fumble, Vance Ramsey had 5 tackles to lead the d.

The Utes now leave the state of Florida and head back to our side of the country. LA specifically to take on UCLA in the 1st Pac 12 South game in the new A.D.' s history. So it is a big game. UCLA is 0-2 as well and we know they will be hungry for their first win of the season. It should be a dandy.

UTES FIRST CONFERENCE GAME IN THE "NEW ERA"

Utah was down in Los Angeles to take on the Bruins of UCLA in new A.D. Sid Allison's first conference game.

Things started out great for Utah. Alex Smith hit Naranjo on a 75 yard pass on the first play of the game and it was 7-0 Utah. Things were looking pretty good at that point.

This football game had 3 safeties, the first was Utah's Paul Kruger getting to Christensen giving Utah a 12-10 lead! The Utes tacked on a FG and headed into the locker room at halftime with a 15-10 lead and confidence high. "We really felt like we had a chance". said new A.D. Sid Allison.


Out of the break UCLA was in the process of methodically moving the football down the field when Darrell Bogan stepped in front of a Christensen pass and stopped the drive. But the next play Smith was sacked for the first UCLA safety. After that the Bruins took over. I think they were able to wear down the Ute defense and win the game 39-22.

Freshman Alex Smith went 11/25 for 319 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. he was sacked 5/47 and 2 safeties. John Naranjo caught 2 for 91 yards and 2 TD. Running the ball Greer was the man 15/36.

I think Utah's inability to run the football and get the tough 1st downs is what costed them the game. The Ute defense played okay but they were out there around 39 minutes of the game.

Robert Thompson had 10 tackles, Eugene Alley had 4 sacks.


Utah now will play their first home game of the season which also happens to be homecoming against behemoth USC. Things are never easy in this Conference and League so the team needs your support. Come on out to the game and cheer you Utah Utes on.

HOMECOMING SPOILED BY TROJANS

USC was in SLC to take on the Utes for the 2024 Homecoming Game. You think......Homecoming.....Trojans.......spoiled? Trojans are something you DO want around during Homecoming. Just not these kind. You want the latex ones, and that is on another night, after the Homecoming Gala.

These USC Trojans participating in homecoming are under the direction of a new A.D. in Southern Cal. He is the former A.D. of back-to-back-to-back-to-back National Champion Notre Dame.

Utah's new A.D. is from Texas. Where he and the Longhorns were in a different league. The best record he had in 5 seasons was a 5 win campaign. That being said, it looked like the makings of a homecoming blowout.

The Utes came out and drew first blood. A Smith to Cornett 41 yard pass to go up 7-0. USC countered with a FG. Utah kicked one as well as time expired to go into the locker room up 10-3!

USC must have made some adjustments at the half. They came out and shut down the Utah offense, created some turnovers, and put up 21 points.

Final Score USC 24 Utah 10.

Utah is still win less on the new season. Things will not get much easier as Syracuse is up next on the schedule.

UTES GET IN THE WIN COLUMN

ACC heavyweight and #2 on the Power Rankings Syracuse Orange were in Salt Lake City to take on the Utes looking for their 1st win of the season.

The scoring got underway when Eugene Alley sacked Syracuses' Hemphill for a safety. Utah tacked on a FG to have the lead, end of 1, by the baseball score of 5-0.
Syracuse "rallied" in the second quarter. Scoring on a 7 yd. pass and an 18 yard FG and the Orange went into the break at halftime up by the Dolly Pardon score of 9-5.

After the break, Utah came out and took care of business, putting up 21 points on long pass plays of 72, 75, and 83 yards.
One side note, some league history was made when Syracuses' Anthony Patchen took the kickoff to the house on the Utes giving him the leagues all time kickoff return TD lead. The Utes new A.D. was in Texas with "Patches" as he calls him and he had nothing but praise for the RB. "Patches works hard in practice and in games, I hate to see anyone run one back on us, but if I had to give up one, it's best he does it" said the Utah AD. "He has a really good chance to go on to play on Sundays" he added.

Going into the 4th up 26-16 the Utes were in position to finally get the big first win. Syracuse made it interesting but the Utes picked off Hemphill and sacked him for a second safety and the Utes got it done 31-26.

One interesting stat in the ball game, The Utes had more attempts rushing than yards rushing. The Orange defense is really quick getting to the sidelines on sweeps and going up the gut is not any easier.

The Utes will go to Walla Walla or where ever Washington State is (Spokane?) to take on the Cougars up there. The team will have the service of their top RB and will need him as WSU has the Nations top Pass defense. It should be one **** of a ballgame.

UTES LOSE AT WASHINGTON STATE

The Utes were in Pullman, WA to take on the WSU Cougars and were confident after last weeks win over Syracuse. Utah came out and put up the games first 10 points and held the Cougars scoreless until 1 minute in the half. They went to half Utah 10-7.

But the Utes would only put up 3 more points and Washington State controlled the game with their RB Wicks he was 19/127 on the ground and 5/21 receiving. He seemed to be the difference in the ball game.

Alex Smith played pretty well. 14/27 with 1 TD.
Aaa Williams led the D with 8 tackles. Vance Ramsey had an interception.

The Utes host Arizona next week.

UTES LOSE ANOTHER CLOSE GAME

Division Rival Arizona was in Salt Lake City to take on Utah. The Utes played pretty well and had a 14 point lead going into the 4th Quarter. The Wildcats came back from 31-17 when WR Bradford caught a pass in the front corner of the end zone to take a 32-31 lead with :43 on the clock.

Utah had a chance for a last second FG but it was short and Arizona leaves Salt Lake with the heartbreaking loss.

The Utes played pretty well. No turnovers. Only a few sacks. Alex Smith went 20/30 with 4 TD and 413 yards. Ty Barrett caught 6/215 yards and 4 TD. The Utes inability to run the football is what looks like the difference in the game as Arizona dominated the TOP,

Defensively the Utes were gassed in the 4th and it is a shame because they played pretty well for how long they were on the field. Darrell Bogan led with 9 tackles and a pick. Eugene Alley and Paul Kruger each had a pair of sacks.

The team needs to shake it off and prepare for Ohio State coming into Utah next week. It has been the Utes goal to play with the big boys of College Football and they have gotten their wish......and some. Losses like this one are unavoidable considering the opposition. The Utes just hope to stay in the game, not let any get out of hand and sometimes things go our way, sometimes they don't.

UTES BEAT BUCKEYES 38-36

Utah was up 3-0 in the first quarter. Then the Ute defense forced a 3 and out giving the offense the football again. Alex Smith dropped back to pass. "All I saw was a flash" Smith later said. OSU brought CB Sid Allison on the blitz and he forced Smith to fumble. (That puts me in a weird position, root for me playing for OSU or not) The Buckeyes later converted the fumble into 7 and took the lead. The teams see sawed their way to a 13-13 tie at the end of 1.

Both teams had big pass plays in the second quarter but it still was close, Utah 27 OSU 26.

In the 3rd, both teams offenses stalled out. But OSU kicked a FG for the lead 29-27.

In the 4th Smith had a long pass to Naranjo and took the lead but with 2:47 left Santoino Holmes made a great grab in the end zone and Ohio State went up 36-35.

Utah got into FG range and got it done on a 43 yarder that gave Utah the big win.

The Utes hope to keep their momentum going as they head to Provo to play the Holy War.

IN UTAH.............

Here in Utah, along the Wasatch Front, an 80 mile suburbia, it is home to about 2 and a half million people. We like sports here. We have the Jazz, the Utah Grizz, AAA Baseball Salt Lake Bees, skiing and snowboarding, we've even had the Olympic Games here.

So there are plenty of sports here for all to "partake" in. What would be the biggest hyped, and the most debated and followed event be in Utah? Grizz playoff games? No, the newspaper doesn't even cover it. The Bees baseball?............. Only if there is an Angel making a rehab appearance. The Jazz in the Playoffs or even making it to the Finals?....The Olympics?..........none of these even come close to the annual Utah Utes and BYU Cougars football game. The people of Utah ask these players to go out there and put their lives on the line, even if they aren't from Utah, every year. Now the carnage spills over into the Sim world here on MFN NCAA.

So you may want to keep the kiddies busy during the game. There could be some disturbing things going on in the "game" and hold on tight because it's usually a pretty good one.

"The Holy War"

UTES LOSE QB AND GAME

When A.D. decided to suit up Dayton at backup QB for the Clemson game, he thought it would be a non issue. Clemson got to Smith early in the 1st quarter and gave him a concussion. That means Dayton would be playing both sides of the ball at QB and FS. He did it too, not very well but he did do it. But the Utes lost 28-12.

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame come to Salt Lake to play up on the hill next. Utah QB Alex Smith's status is unknown.