The Utes take on #18 Arizona State in a Saturday night tilt on the hill. A win over a ranked opponent would go a long way in starting to restore Utah’s national standing, but there are some familiar foes that will need to help Utah’s resume-building week be complete.
#24 San Diego State vs San Jose State - Friday 8:30 PM MT - CBS Sports Network
Utah’s G5 losses came by way of two teams ranked in the top 25, with one of those being San Diego State. If Utah hopes to claw their way back into the national spotlight, the Aztecs will need to keep winning, and a date with their in-state rivals to the north should end in an easy win to keep SDSU’s Cinderalla season alive. An upset would set the Utes back even further.
#12 Oklahoma State vs #25 Texas - Saturday 10:00 AM MT - FOX
Just a week removed from choking away a 21 point lead to their heated rival Oklahoma, the Longhorns now prepare for the Sooners little brother. Despite a large gap in ranking, Texas is a -3.5 favorite and is a 79.1% favorite to win according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, but Ute fans need to hope for a Cowboys win to clear some at the bottom of the top 25.
#19 BYU vs Baylor - Saturday 1:30 PM MT - ESPN
Speaking of heated rivals and G5 opponents Utah has lost to, BYU is headed to Baylor in a matchup that will soon become an annual event when the Cougars eventually join the Big 12 in the coming seasons. The 5-1 Bears are in prime position to jump into the rankings with a win over BYU, hindering Utah’s already relatively slim chances. A Cougar win not only keeps Baylor at bay but bolsters Utah’s weak strength of schedule ever so slightly. The Bears are -5 point favorites and are favored by 73.3% according to FPI, which shouldn't come as a surprise after BYU’s uninspired performance against Boise State last week, but as Ute fans know, this Cougar squad is more than capable of pulling an upset.