Utah football gets another in-state test Saturday afternoon, and this one comes with a little extra on top. The No. 17 Utes will finish their three-game homestand against Utah State at Rice-Eccles Stadium, with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m. on FOX.
Utah comes in 2-0 after rolling past Arkansas 43-10, while Utah State is still searching for its first win at 0-2. But the Aggies took a real step forward last week in Seattle, pushing No. 19 Washington all the way to the end before falling 16-14.
That’s what makes this edition of the “Battle of the Brothers” more interesting than the records might suggest. Utah should be the clear favorite, but Utah State showed enough against Washington to make the Utes earn every point.
The game also doubles as Utah’s annual Ute Proud Game and Hall of Fame Game, so there’s more happening than just the football. The Ute Proud Game honors the culture and traditions of the Ute Indian Tribe and the long-standing relationship between the tribe and the university. At halftime, Utah will recognize the 2026 Utah Athletics Hall of Fame class: former offensive lineman Zane Beadles, gymnast Daria Bijak, skier Katrin Smigun, basketball standout Delon Wright, former basketball coach Jerry Pimm and the 1991 softball team.
If you’re planning to be there, Utah is asking fans to be inside Rice-Eccles Stadium by 12:45 p.m. for the pregame festivities. The team arrival is scheduled for approximately 11:05 a.m. outside Gate L on 500 South. The Utes are also expecting what would be their 98th consecutive sellout.
On the field, Utah is beginning to show the shape of the team Morgan Scalley has been talking about. Through two games, the Utes have kept the physical edge that’s long defined them, but they’ve also added more moving parts on offense. Kevin McGiven has shifted players like Byrd Ficklin and Daniel Bray around the formation, mixed in multiple backs and tight ends, and built an attack that can come at defenses in different ways.
Scalley said Monday that the buy-in has been part of why it’s working.
“You may get yours one week, you may not get as much the next week, but it doesn’t matter who scores, it matters that we score,” Scalley said Monday.
There have been other encouraging signs, too. The offensive line has taken steps forward, and Utah’s defense has tackled well while keeping explosive plays in check over the first two weeks. Saturday gives the Utes another chance to sharpen those strengths before Big 12 play ramps up.
For Utah State, the 0-2 start doesn’t tell the whole story. The Aggies were disappointing in their opener against Idaho State, but last week’s performance at Washington suggested a team that’s getting better. They held the Huskies to one offensive touchdown and had a late chance to win before the 16-14 loss.
Even with the lopsided records, that sets up a different kind of challenge for Utah than the physical battle Arkansas provided. The Utes are supposed to control this one, but Utah State’s showing in Seattle says the Aggies won’t just roll over.
In Other News...
Utah's Blowout Win Left Arkansas Fans Melting Down Outside The Stadium
Utahs 43-10 rout of Arkansas in Salt Lake City was the kind of season-opening statement that can reshape the mood around a program in a hurry. The No. 20 Utes answered the Razorbacks with 43 unanswered points, while Arkansas spent most of the night searching for any sign of rhythm offensively, finishing with just 61 rushing yards and 139 passing yards from quarterback KJ Jackson.
The aftermath was just as ugly outside the stadium, where a video began circulating of a physical altercation among Arkansas fans. Inside the program, head coach Ryan Silverfield called it his first official defeat since taking over and acknowledged how far the performance fell short, leaving the Razorbacks with plenty to sort through before the next one. [Read more 🡒]
Former Utes Are Already Making Noise Across The NFL
The opening week of the 2026 NFL season offered a quick reminder of how many Utah products are now spread across the league and making their mark. Dalton Kincaid gave Buffalo a big lift with 130 receiving yards, Devin Lloyd was active all over the field in his Carolina debut with 13 tackles, and Devaughn Vele found the end zone for New Orleans, continuing a pattern Utah fans have gotten used to seeing from former Utes at the next level.
It also was a notable first step for the programs newest NFL arrivals, with rookies Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu getting their first taste of pro football as starters or active roster members. For Utah, it is the kind of early-season snapshot that speaks to both the programs recent talent pipeline and the way those former Utes are already factoring into real Sundays, even before the year has settled into its rhythm. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs New Offense Is Giving The Utes A Different Identity
Morgan Scalleys first offensive hire has already started to reshape how Utah looks on the field. By bringing in Kevin McGiven as offensive coordinator, Scalley signaled a willingness to lean into a more varied, aggressive style, and the early results have been hard to ignore. Through two games, the Utes have piled up points and yards at a pace that points to an attack with more creativity and more ways to stress a defense.
The biggest change has been in the feel of the offense, which has been built around diverse play calls, multiple receivers getting involved and a mix of formations that keeps opponents from settling in. For a program long associated with a tougher, more methodical identity, that kind of variety gives Utah a different look and a different ceiling. The early performance suggests the shift is real, even if the fuller test of how sustainable it is still lies ahead. [Read more 🡒]