Game Day Preview, Score Prediction For Utah Football Vs UCF Knights

SALT LAKE CITY— It’s the final week of the 2024 season and Utah Football has traveled to Orlando, FL to take on the UCF Knights.

This is actually the first time these two programs have faced off against one another. Both enter this contest with 4-7 records and looking to finish the season in the win column.

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐲‼️

🆚 UCF
🏟️ FBC Mortgage Stadium
⏰ 6:00PM MT
📺 FOX
📻 ESPN 700 AM / 92.1 FM#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/WzUTnF8zbF

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 29, 2024

However, the Knights present a tough challenge and will require a significant effort on both sides of the ball.

Utah Vs. UCF

Television: FOX

Streaming: Fubo, YouTube TV 

Radio: ESPN 700 AM / 92.1 FM

Utah Vs. UCF Records

Records: Iowa State 4-7, 1-7; UCF 4-7, 2-6

Last Week: Utah lost to Iowa State, 31-28; UCF lost to West Virginia 31-21

Series History: This is the first matchup between the two programs.

Three Game Day Thoughts

1. Kyle Whittingham 

With kickoff just hours away, speculation surrounds head coach Kyle Whittingham and the possibility that this could be his final game.

In his weekly press conference, Coach Whittingham said he will evaluate his future after the season’s conclusion. When asked whether he would be here for his 21st season, he made clear that he would evaluate his future and do what is best for the program, not himself.

It is possible that this will be Coach Whittingham’s final game, which is a surreal concept to grasp. He is not just synonymous with “Utah Football,” COACH WHITTINGHAM IS UTAH FOOTBALL.

As a head coach, he has built Utah around his identity and core beliefs. His tenure has been marked by a commitment to consistency, family, toughness, and so much more. And he’s led Utah to tremendous success during his 20 years at the helm.

Regardless of how tonight’s game plays out, take time to reflect on Whittingham’s career. He very well could end up electing to return for 2025. However, it’s clear that the possibility he does not is very real.

2. The 2024 Season Finale

This is Utah’s worst season in quite some time. The program is currently on a seven-game losing streak. Ending it would mean this is Utah’s worst season since 2013. If not, it would be the worst season since 2000.

A season like this demands careful inspection and often significant changes. Utah experienced a big change midway through the year when Andy Ludwig resigned from his post. Hiring a new offensive coordinator position will be Utah’s top priority.

Beyond that, could there be additional changes to how this program operates? Position coach changes? Offseason regimen changes? Lots to be evaluated after a difficult year like this and changes could be coming.

3. Utah’s uniform combination

Utah has had a tremendous season on the uniform front. They’ve introduced a couple of new looks that seem to be mainstays and rocked a fantastic hand-painted helmet last week.

Tonight, Utah will rock a red-white-red uniform set with their throwback uniforms. It seems that these will become the new standard uniform set.

𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝟏𝟐 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 pic.twitter.com/mbtfEWsl9x

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 27, 2024

Two Questions For The Utah-UCF Game

1. What are you thankful for? 

𝐋𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Z52k15Ouxg

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 29, 2024

It’s Thanksgiving week and as he does every year, Coach Whittingham hears what every player and coach. Even in a difficult season, there is still plenty to be grateful for.

2. What will the offense look like with Luke Bottari?

Utah is down to QB5 on the depth chart. Bottari provided a spark last week against Iowa State. The hope is that he can do just enough to help Utah breakthrough in the win column.

With him at the helm, the offense will be different than it was with Isaac Wilson. Bottari does not have the arm talent that Wilson does, however, he does have a deeper grasp of the offense thanks to his time in the program.

As he showcased last week, Bottari can and will make quick decisions. He got the ball to his receivers quickly and found guys in the short and intermediate areas of the field. That will be the big focus of the passing game with him as well.

Bottari also showed that he has some running ability. He’ll be a threat in the option-game, which should play a fairly prominent role in the offense today as well.

Worth noting that Micah Bernard is currently sitting on 922 rushing yards. He needs 78 yards to break the 1,000-yard mark. That will likely be a big focus for the Utah offense today as well.

Score Prediction for Utah Vs UCF

The travel, short week, and matchup make this a difficult contest. UCF is one of the top rushing attacks in the country. Utah has struggled to stop the run at times this season.

Can the Utah offense control the ball enough to keep the defense fresh enough for the physicality that UCF will play with?

Everything suggests that UCF should win this game comfortably but somehow, this group finds a way to make enough plays to get the win.

Utah 24, UCF 17

Utah Football 2024 Season Results:

• Utes defeat Southern Utah, 49-0
• Utes defeat Baylor, 23-12
• Utes defeat Utah State, 38-21
• Utes defeat Oklahoma State, 22-19
• Utes fall to Arizona, 23-10
• Utes fall to Arizona State, 27-19
• Utes fall to TCU, 13-7
• Utes fall to Houston, 17-14
• Utes fall to BYU, 22-21
• Utes fall to Colorado, 49-24
• Utes fall to Iowa State, 31-28

Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.

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