Utah’s first whiteout is getting an earlier start, and that changes the feel of Saturday in Salt Lake City.
No. 12 Utah will host Kansas at Rice-Eccles Stadium at 6 p.m.
MT, with kickoff moved up from 8:15 p.m. because of expected inclement weather. The two programs agreed to the adjustment after looking at forecast models.
The game will air on ESPNEWS and stream on the ESPN app.
The schedule around the stadium has shifted, too. Utah’s team arrival is set for 3:40 p.m., and gates will open at 4 p.m. For fans, the full updated timeline now runs like this: signature and tailgate lots open at 6 a.m.; all parking lots open at 1 p.m.; The Arrival at Gate L at 3:40 p.m.; stadium gates at 4 p.m.; team warm-ups at 5 p.m.; team stretch, cauldron lighting and Utah MILI at 5:15 p.m.; marching band and spirit performance at 5:40 p.m.; national anthem at 5:45 p.m.; team runout at 5:55 p.m.; and kickoff at 6 p.m.
Utah is asking fans to wear white for the first whiteout in program history, and the Utes will also unveil their new hand-painted helmets for the occasion. The earlier start could help keep the whiteout look intact before rain gear starts creeping into the picture.
Weather remains the big concern. There is a chance of lightning, and that could bring significant delays Saturday night.
A long interruption could also affect Kansas’ return travel as the storm system moves through the area. By moving the game up two hours and 15 minutes, both sides gave themselves a better shot at getting through the night before conditions worsen, though weather could still interrupt play.
For Utah, the timing comes with a 4-0 overall record and a 1-0 mark in Big 12 play after the bye week. Kansas comes in at 2-2 and is still looking for its first conference win.
Morgan Scalley’s team has opened the season by pairing a productive offense with a defense that has allowed only 41 points through four games. Quarterback Devon Dampier leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency at 172.2 and ranks second in completion percentage at 70.3%. He has nine touchdown passes and is averaging 224 passing yards per game.
Running back Wayshawn Parker has been a threat both on the ground and through the air, piling up nine touchdowns overall - five rushing and four receiving. He was named the conference Offensive Player of the Week after totaling 239 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns against Iowa State.
Radio coverage will be on ESPN 700.
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Utahs First Whiteout Just Got More Complicated For Utes Fans
Utahs first whiteout was already set to give Saturday night in Salt Lake City a little extra color, with fans asked to wear white and the Utes unveiling new hand-painted helmets for the visit from Kansas. The matchup had been pegged for a late 8:15 p.m. MT kickoff, which fit the big-stage feel of the event and gave the crowd plenty of time to build toward what was supposed to be one of the seasons more distinctive home-game atmospheres.
The schedule, though, has gotten more complicated. The kickoff has been moved up to 6 p.m. MT because of weather concerns, including the chance of lightning, and the broadcast picture is still not fully settled, even though the game will be available in its entirety on the ESPN app. For fans planning around the whiteout, its a reminder that the night is now starting much earlier than expected, with the television details still to be announced. [Read more 🡒]
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Utah is the one that stands out first because of what it brings into the conversation on offense, where Devon Dampier has been setting the pace in passing efficiency and Wayshawn Parker has been a reliable source of touchdowns. However Colorados staff chooses to frame the study session, the Utes are part of a three-game scouting window that could tell Sanders a lot about how quickly his team can tighten up before the schedule gets less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]
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Utah has kept winning, but the third quarter keeps looking like a stretch where the offense loses its grip for a while before settling back in. Head coach Morgan Scalley and offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven have pointed to execution and balance as the main issues, a familiar combination for a group that has shown enough through the first half of recent games to build leads, then too often struggles to keep the pace once the break ends.
The concern is not just about one player or one drive, either. Against Iowa State, junior running back Wayshawn Parker was central to Utahs early success, but the way touches were spread around later reflected the staffs desire to keep multiple options involved rather than simply ride the same answer over and over. It is a workable approach when the offense is humming, though the longer the third-quarter lull hangs around, the more it starts to feel like a problem that could catch up with them. [Read more 🡒]