No. 12 Utah is rolling into Saturday night’s showdown against Kansas sitting pretty at a perfect 4-0, ready to defend their turf at Rice-Eccles Stadium. After a bye week, these Utes are fresh, rested, and looking to hit that 5-0 mark against a Jayhawks squad that’s struggled against Power Four opponents this season.
Utes’ Defense Ready to Wreak Havoc in the Rain
Dude, these Utes are legit. Their first real competitive matchup this season saw them take down Iowa State 31-17, and honestly, it’s hard to imagine their defense struggling much against Kansas. The Jayhawks’ offense has really only shone against lower-tier teams, outside of one wild fourth quarter. That Utah front four? They’ve been making a difference all season, and you can bet they’re gonna wreak havoc on Kansas QB Isaiah Marshall this game. It’s gonna be wild. Oh, and get this: this is the first time Kansas has played at Rice-Eccles since the stadium was rebuilt in 1998. The previous two times they were in Salt Lake City, the stadium looked totally different. Talk about a trip down memory lane!
Kansas Needs to Right the Ship, Or Else…
Now, let’s talk about Kansas. They’re sitting at 2-2, 0-1 in the Big 12, with wins over Middle Tennessee State and Long Island. But when they’ve faced Power Four opponents like Arizona State and rival Missouri, they’ve taken L’s. Coach Lance Leipold? The word on the street is he could be on the hot seat if he can’t get this team going. There was a glimmer of hope, though. That fourth quarter against Arizona State, where they pulled off a near comeback in London, might just be the spark they needed. But, man, back-to-back turnovers early in that quarter cost them. And speaking of turnovers, with Saturday’s forecast calling for high 60s and rain, ball security is gonna be EVERYTHING. The Jayhawks already struggled with it against Arizona State, and a wet ball in Salt Lake City? That’s just asking for trouble.
Parker’s Running Riot, and Utah’s Got More Threats
So, with the rain coming down, keeping the ball on the ground might become the conservative game plan for both teams, depending on how bad it gets. Good news for the Utes, though: Wayshawn Parker is an absolute beast. This dude just ran for 174 yards against Iowa State, including a two-touchdown performance! If he goes off like that again, it could be lights out for the Jayhawks. Kansas is gonna have to focus all their energy on stopping No. 1 from getting those huge chunk plays, but that’s no easy task. Why? Because Utah also has two quarterbacks who are serious threats in the run game if they need ’em. It sounds like it should be a “pretty awesome environment for a Kansas team that is p” , and they’re gonna need every bit of that energy to deal with Utah’s ground attack and that relentless D.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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