Utah Football Not Concerned About Baylor's Loss or Conference Affiliation

The No. 12-ranked Utah football team is set to take on Baylor in a game that some may consider a mismatch. However, Utah's head coach, Kyle Whittingham, believes the Bears will fix their issues and put up a fight. Utah acknowledges they need to improve their performance, and Baylor still managed to rack up over 500 yards of offense. Both teams have areas they need to work on, but Utah has the advantage of a strong defense and the absence of Baylor's starting QB.

The upcoming matchup between the No. 12-ranked Utah football team and Baylor may seem like a mismatch on paper. Utah, the two-time defending Pac-12 champions, is coming off a dominant victory against SEC powerhouse Florida. On the other hand, Baylor has lost five straight games, including a humiliating defeat against Texas State, a Sun Belt program with a high roster turnover. However, Utah's head coach, Kyle Whittingham, refuses to rely on paper statistics and expects Baylor to make improvements and put up a fight on Saturday.

While Baylor may have struggled in their previous game, they still managed to accumulate over 500 yards of offense, outgaining Texas State by more than 80 yards. Their downfall was their red-zone efficiency, as they only scored two touchdowns out of five trips to the red zone, while Texas State scored on all three of their attempts. On the other hand, Utah also had areas they needed to improve upon, particularly their offensive performance. They were not particularly prolific and lacked execution at times. Quarterback Bryson Barnes acknowledged his responsibility to spark momentum in the team and attributed their dull moments to execution errors.

Whittingham highlighted Utah's shortcomings in the running game, with only 105 yards on the ground and an average of 3.5 yards per carry. He emphasized the need for the offensive line to be more physical in the run game and mentioned that running back Ja'Quinden Jackson's injury limited his carries. The passing attack is also uncertain, as injured quarterback Cam Rising may not be available, and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig expressed the need for better efficiency in rotating quarterbacks.

Defensively, Utah had a strong showing against Florida, limiting them to just one successful third-down conversion out of 13 attempts. However, they were susceptible to surrendering yardage, particularly on big chunk plays. Defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley praised the team's performance in terms of missed tackles, red-zone defense, and third-down defense but acknowledged the need to reduce yards allowed between those key moments.

Despite their advantages, such as Baylor's injured starting quarterback and inexperienced offensive line, Utah remains focused on their own performance. They are not dwelling on their victory against Florida or Baylor's defeat against Texas State. The game also carries the subplot of being a preview of an intra-conference matchup in the future, as Utah is set to join the Big 12. However, Whittingham and the team are solely focused on preparing for the Baylor Bears, regardless of the conference they are in.

In conclusion, the upcoming matchup between Utah and Baylor may seem like a mismatch on paper, but both teams have areas to improve upon. Utah's head coach, Kyle Whittingham, refuses to rely on paper statistics and expects Baylor to make improvements. Utah acknowledges their own shortcomings in the running and passing game, while also recognizing their defensive strengths. Despite their advantages, Utah remains focused on their own performance and is solely focused on preparing for the Baylor Bears.

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