Utah comes out of its bye week in pretty good shape, and the first availability report of Kansas week made that clear.
Heading into Saturday’s “white out” matchup with Kansas at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the Utes had a mostly clean injury list Wednesday. After six weeks of the season, that’s about as good a spot as any team can hope to be in.
The only Utah players ruled out were tight end Kana’i Lopes and offensive lineman Isaiah Garcia, who landed on the report as out for the second straight game. Garcia has logged just 21 snaps across two games this season, while Lopes has still not made his season debut.
Beyond that, Utah’s list stayed short. Defensive lineman Karson Kaufusi and tight end Semi Taulanga were the only other names attached to the report, both marked questionable.
Kaufusi’s presence there isn’t new. He was listed on the initial Big 12 availability report before Utah’s game against Iowa State, but still suited up and played 46 snaps in the road win.
Kansas arrives with a longer report of its own. The Jayhawks are 2-2 overall and 0-1 in Big 12 play, and nine players were listed out for Saturday’s game.
Among them is backup quarterback Cole Ballard, who has played 23 snaps this season behind starter Isaiah Marshall.
Tight end Carter Moses was listed doubtful, while receiver Tate Nagy and running back Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman were both questionable. None of those names are major full-time starters, but Nagy has carved out a role as Kansas’ fourth-leading receiver with 101 yards and two touchdowns on six catches.
In Other News...
Utah Fans Will Love Whats Finally Happening In The MUSS
The MUSS has long been one of the most recognizable parts of Utah football Saturdays, and this season the student section has taken a noticeable step toward making those gameday scenes feel a little more orderly and a lot more rewarding. By moving to a general admission setup with lottery-based ticket distribution, the Utes have encouraged students to show up earlier while also trying to make access feel fairer for everyone involved.
Theres another ripple effect, too, and it reaches beyond the football stadium. Students who support other Utah sports now have a better path to improve their chances for football tickets, which has helped raise engagement across campus athletics and given the program another way to keep students connected even before kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs New Backcourt Just Gave Fans A Reason To Pay Attention
Utahs exhibition win over UNLV offered an early glimpse of what this roster might look like once the games start counting, and the backcourt was at the center of it. Trey Campbell, who was recently granted eligibility after a legal battle with the NCAA, led the way with 17 points as the Utes showed the kind of guard play and defensive effort that can make a team hard to deal with in November.
The broader takeaway for Utah was the depth of the performance, not just the final 79-69 score. Eleven players saw the floor, nine logged double-digit minutes and the rotation already looked engaged on the defensive end, which gives the Utes something to build on as they keep sorting out roles. For a team looking for stability in the backcourt, this was at least a promising first read. [Read more 🡒]
Utah Just Got A Big Backcourt Boost From Trey Campbell
Utahs backcourt depth got a much-needed lift this week when Trey Campbell was cleared to compete after a temporary restraining order was granted in his legal dispute with the NCAA. Utah Athletics confirmed the ruling, and for now it means the guard who transferred in from Northern Iowa can take the floor while the bigger question around his eligibility plays out.
Campbell had filed a lawsuit seeking an additional season under the NCAAs new five-year model, and the case leaves his long-term status unresolved even as Utah gains immediate help. For a team trying to piece together its guard rotation, the short-term boost is welcome, but the larger eligibility fight is still hanging over his future. [Read more 🡒]