Utah coach Morgan Scalley doesn’t sound interested in making Isaac Wilson’s return to the matchup any bigger than it has to be.
That doesn’t mean he’s ignoring what Colorado now has at quarterback. Scalley spoke Monday about Wilson with clear respect, pointing to the arm talent, the growth and the way the former Utah quarterback has been developed since leaving. But tucked into that praise was the real message: Utah knows him, too.
“Yeah, and he did a really good job as a scout team quarterback and really smart. He's bright.
You look at the throws that he makes on the outside. He has the arm talent, you know, but it's not as big of a deal in my opinion as I think people could make it out to be,” Scalley said.
Wilson’s history against Utah is already on the record. He started seven games for the Utes in 2024, including a 49-24 loss at Folsom Field, when he threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted three times by Colorado. That game is part of the backdrop now, especially with Wilson set to face the Utes again in Colorado colors.
Scalley’s familiarity with Wilson runs deeper than one game. He coached Utah’s defense when Wilson was there, and in 2025 he coordinated the Utes’ defense while Wilson worked in the quarterback room and on the scout team. Colorado cornerback Jason Stokes Jr. also made the move from Utah, which means there are familiar faces and familiar words on both sides Saturday.
Scalley acknowledged that connection without giving it too much weight.
“He's definitely done a great job of being developed at Colorado, and he's going to know, obviously, there's some things terminology-wise and Stokes as well," he said. "Jason Stokes is going to know some things, but at the same time, we have a feel for his strengths and weaknesses. And I think at the end of the day, it's still, again, it's still a team game, and I don't read too much into it.”
Stokes does have a little extra motive here. After mostly playing special teams at Utah in 2025, he picked off his first career pass against Baylor. At preseason media day, he said the chance to see his former teammates matters, even if his attention stays on each week’s opponent.
Wilson’s recent path has been a rocky one. He replaced Julian Lewis against Baylor, then was picked off three times in Colorado’s 29-7 loss to Texas Tech. So while he may know some of Utah’s language, the bigger question is what happens once the ball is snapped.
Utah comes in Saturday at 5-0 and has held opponents to 13 points per game over its last five games. If Wilson starts, the Utes will know plenty about him. The test will be whether he can keep the ball away from a defense that knows him just as well.
In Other News...
Utah Just Got An Important O-Line Boost Before Colorado
Utahs offensive line has spent much of the season as one of the quieter strengths behind the programs improved offensive rhythm, even after the Utes had to replace all five starters from a year ago. The group got a notable nod after the win over Kansas, when it was recognized as the Big 12s Beef of the Week, a fitting reminder that the front has been doing more than just holding up its end.
Isaiah Garcias return to practice this week only adds to that sense of stability heading into Colorado. Garcia, a key rotational piece up front, had missed the last two games with an injury, so getting him back in the mix gives Utah another option as it tries to keep the lines recent momentum going against a defense that will be eager to test it. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Has A New Defensive Star And A Bigger Utah Concern
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For Utah, the larger concern is not just what Lester has already done, but whether he will be available when the Utes see Colorado next. His impact has come quickly and at a disruptive level, and if hes cleared to play, Utah will have to deal with one of the leagues most effective edge threats. If he is not, the Buffaloes lose a player who has changed the feel of their front in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Pass Rush Drought May Not Mean What Utes Fans Think
Through five games, Utahs defensive ends still havent put a sack on the stat sheet, but the broader picture has looked a little healthier than that lone number suggests. The front has generated plenty of quarterback pressures and hurries, and the Utes have leaned into a defensive approach built around keeping opposing passers from escaping the pocket while making offenses earn every yard on the ground.
Morgan Scalley has acknowledged the sack drought, but he has also pointed to what Utah is actually taking away. The defense has done a good job of forcing opponents into passing situations and limiting rushing production, which has fit the staffs plan even when the box score does not show the usual pass-rush payoff. [Read more 🡒]