Utahs First Whiteout Just Got More Complicated For Utes Fans

The Utah vs. Kansas football game has been rescheduled to an earlier kickoff to dodge potential weather delays, ensuring an uninterrupted whiteout event at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Utah’s game against Kansas on Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium has been pushed up to a 6 p.m. MT kickoff because of expected weather in the Salt Lake City area.

The matchup had been set for 8:15 p.m. MT, but the incoming storm system led to a change that moves the start time up by two hours and 15 minutes. Lightning is part of the concern, and that could create major delays if it hits during the game.

That’s why the earlier kickoff matters. It gives the teams a better shot at getting the game finished before the weather turns into a bigger problem, though any interruptions will still depend on conditions Saturday night.

The broadcast setup is also still being sorted out. The game will air on the ESPN app in full, with a network to be determined tomorrow.

Saturday’s game carries extra buzz for Utah for more than one reason. It will be the program’s first whiteout, with fans asked to wear white, and the Utes will also unveil new hand-painted helmets for the occasion.

No. 12 Utah enters at 4-0 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 play after a bye week.

The Utes last played on Sept. 26, when they beat Iowa State 31-17. They’ll be trying to move to 5-0 in Morgan Scalley’s first season as head coach.

Kansas comes in at 2-2 and 0-1 in the Big 12.

Fans planning to attend should be ready for the earlier start and keep an eye out for further updates on broadcast details and stadium operations.

In Other News...

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What makes the assignment even tougher for the Jayhawks is the setting, because this one comes with the kind of late kickoff and nasty weather conditions that can turn a conference opener into a grind. Extreme winds and possible rain from Tropical Storm Rachels remnants could strip away some of the usual rhythm and force both sides into a more physical, field-position-heavy game, which is hardly the sort of welcome Kansas was hoping for in its first Big 12 test. [Read more 🡒]