The Matt Cave
The Voice for all things Utah sports, Matt gives you his unedited and unbridled opinion on the current events around the state. Sprinkled in are video game reviews and talk about important national sports stories. Listen now and become a spelunker today!
Utes survive Wyoming; Utah State rolls Air Force; RSL tops SKC | Texas Tech preview, Mammoth rookies, Borderlands 4 first look
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Three wins in Utah this week and a whole lot to talk about.
I break down Utah’s gritty road win at Wyoming—dominant defense (hello, John Henry Daly), red-zone hiccups, and a freshman kicking game that has me chewing nails—then pivot to a huge Texas Tech at Utah preview with Big Noon Kickoff in town. After that, it’s Utah State shocking Air Force behind Bryson Barnes’ five touchdowns and why bowl eligibility suddenly feels real in Year 1 under Bronco. We jump back into MLS with Real Salt...
BYU’s Elite Defense, Utah’s Easy Win & Aggies’ Reality Check | Borderlands 4 & The Finals
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This week on The Matt Cave, Utah college football takes center stage. 🏈
BYU vs. Stanford: The Cougars’ defense dominated with sacks, turnovers, and shutdown play, but offensive play-calling remains a concern.Utah vs. Cal Poly: A blowout win revealed little, though questions linger about two-way players and receiver depth.Utah State vs. Texas A&M: Bronco Mendenhall’s Aggies showed fight but were ultimately outclassed in a tough paycheck game.Beyond football, the show covers the Utah Mammoth’s rookie camp at their brand-new...
Utah Football Hat Trick, BYU’s 69–0 Romp, and Why Borderlands 4 & Battlefield 6 Rule 2025
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🚨 New Episode Alert! 🚨
Week 1 of college football is in the books — and for once, we’ve got a Utah hat trick 🎩⚡ All three teams (Utah, BYU, Utah State) came away with wins… though some looked a whole lot prettier than others 👀
🏈 Utah’s defense embarrassed UCLA while Dampier took care of the ball
🏈 Utah State found stability (and some weird helmets) in Bronco Mendenhall’s debut
🏈 BYU’s true freshman QB Bear Bachmeier didn’t just survive — he thrived in a 69–0 demolition
Plus, I wrap things up with my hype check on Borderlands...
BYU Football 2025 Preview: Bear Bachmeier, Season Predictions & The Finals Game Review
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The 2025 college football season is here — and The Matt Cave is diving deep into the BYU Cougars football preview before Week 1 kicks off.
In this episode, Matt breaks down everything Cougar Nation needs to know:
QB1 Bear Bachmeier: true freshman starter, comparisons to Taysom Hill, and what fans can realistically expect.BYU’s offense: Chase Roberts, Tiger Bachmeier, JoJo Phillips, LJ Martin, and a rebuilt offensive line.BYU’s defense: led by Jack Kelly, Isaiah Glasker, and Raider Demouni — but can they finally...Utah Football Season Preview & EA Sports College Football 26 Review
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The Utes are on deck! This week on The Matt Cave Podcast, Matt dives deep into the University of Utah’s 2025 football season outlook under Kyle Whittingham. With Devon Dampier stepping into the spotlight and Jason Beck bringing a new-look offense, what can Ute fans realistically expect? Matt lays out Utah’s floor, ceiling, and his season prediction, plus the players to watch as the Big 12 era ramps up.
To close things out, Matt reviews EA Sports College Football 26. Was this year’s version a step forward or just an exp...
Utah State Football 2025 Preview & Why the Battlefield 6 Beta is a Game-Changer
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Football season is almost here, and it’s time to break down Year One of the Bronco Mendenhall era at Utah State. I cover the Aggies’ offense, defense, coaching staff, key players, and schedule before giving my official 2025 record prediction — and it might not be what Aggie fans want to hear.
Then we shift gears to gaming, diving into why the Battlefield 6 beta has over half a million concurrent players, how EA finally learned from Battlefield 2042’s mistakes, and why October 2025 could be the best month fo...
Real Salt Lake’s Leagues Cup Chaos, Battlefield 6 Hype, and Dallas Cowboys Drama
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Soccer, shooters, and some spicy NFL drama—this week’s Matt Cave has it all.
First, Matt breaks down Real Salt Lake’s wild run in the Leagues Cup, explaining what the tournament actually is, why MLS vs. Liga MX is heating up, and how RSL’s penalty shootouts became must-watch chaos.
Then it’s on to Battlefield 6, where EA finally looks ready to bounce back after the disaster of 2042. Hear why the new reveal has Matt cautiously hyped and why this could be the Battlefiel...
BYU Basketball in ESPN's Top 10?! Plus RSL's Playoff Push & Mammoth News Tease
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This week in The Matt Cave, Matt tries to process two things he never thought he'd say in 2025: Real Salt Lake is in playoff position, and BYU Men’s Basketball is being hyped as a national title contender. No, seriously.
First, he breaks down RSL’s wild 2-1 win over San Jose, featuring two goals that were more “gifts” than greatness. Then it's time to dive into an ESPN article that has BYU ahead of blue bloods like Duke, Kansas, and Michigan State — a sentence 15-year-old Matt would never believe. A...
RSL’s Oregon Breakthrough, Pokémon Z-A Hype, and a Six-Game Lineup Worth Your Wallet
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This week in The Matt Cave, Real Salt Lake finally breaks the curse in Portland, notching their first win in Oregon since 2017 — only to trip over themselves at home against Eastern Conference leader FC Cincinnati. Matt breaks down both matches and what they mean for RSL’s playoff hopes (yes, playoffs).
Plus: A quick but funny Utah Mammoth update involving ESPN’s painfully slow name correction, and a deep dive into six video games worth your time in a pretty meh release year. From Borderlands 4 hype to Pokémon Leg...
Diego Luna’s RSL Future, Big 12 Media Days Fluff, and BYU’s QB Mystery
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Real Salt Lake makes it four unbeaten, but are they for real? Diego Luna's return sparks life into the squad, but will he even be here for their next match? Matt dives deep into RSL's win over Houston, Luna's looming transfer, and the growing tension between short-term results and long-term planning.
Then it's Big 12 Media Days recap time: BYU and Utah showed up in full fluff mode, but there were still some nuggets to break down. Matt gives his honest take on Devin Dampier, Utah's new offense, Kalani Sitake's refreshing NIL...
Great Goals, Gritty Wins, and Garbage Defense
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Matt’s back after the holiday weekend with a three-segment breakdown across soccer and hockey, starting with Real Salt Lake’s chaotic 3-2 win over St. Louis City FC. Two own goals, clueless defending, and somehow a win? Yeah, it’s that kind of year in Sandy.
Then it’s all eyes on the USMNT as Matt breaks down their undefeated Gold Cup run and explains why this “C team” is actually putting pressure on the World Cup roster. Three new locks, a goalie controversy, and a whole lot of grit.
Finally...
Draft Week Reaction Spectacular
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This week, Matt dives into the 2025 NBA and NHL Drafts, and for once, he’s giving himself a little credit. The Utah Jazz surprised fans by drafting Ace Bailey at #5, trading up for Walter Clayton Jr., and grabbing John Tonje in Round 2. He breaks down each pick, roasts ESPN’s anti-small-market narratives, and celebrates a rare aggressive move by Utah’s front office.
Then it’s over to the ice, where Utah Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong pulls off a blockbuster trade for JJ Peterka and follows it up with two big draft-da...
Utah Jazz Play It Safe While the Mammoth Plan a Draft Day Power Play
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This week on The Matt Cave Podcast, host Matt Smith dives into the high-stakes world of draft strategy as the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth prepare for back-to-back draft nights. With both teams holding top-5 picks, the pressure is on—so Matt’s breaking down what he thinks they’ll do versus what they should do.
🏀 For the Jazz, Matt predicts a predictable pick (hello, Trey Johnson) and calls out the team’s addiction to “upside” and inaction in trade talks.
🏒 For the Mammoth, he sees potential for a bold, franchise-defining...
Luna on Loan, RSL Wakes Up, and Xbox Drops Bombs
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Real Salt Lake finally ends their brutal winless streak — and they did it without Diego Luna.
With the Gold Cup underway, Matt breaks down the USMNT’s roster, their chances (spoiler: not great), and why Luna’s value keeps rising.
On the gaming front, Xbox’s showcase delivered big with Clockwork Revolution, Beast of Reincarnation (yes, from Game Freak!), and news of a Halo Combat Evolved remaster. Plus: Is the Xbox Ally handheld the console killer we didn’t know we needed?
Matt wraps with early impressions of Dune: Aw...
Luna Rising, BYU All In, and Gamers Left Dreaming
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It was a quiet week in Utah sports—but not without drama. In this episode of The Matt Cave:
🇺🇸 Diego Luna earns the start for the USMNT against Turkey and makes a strong case for next summer’s World Cup roster.
🏀 BYU extends Kevin Young after one season. Is it a savvy move or a leap of faith in the new NIL era?
💰 The NCAA’s pay-for-play shift is official—what it means for schools like BYU, Utah, and Utah State going forward.
🎮 And Summer Game Fest 2025… well, i...
RSL’s Gift to LA, Mammoth’s Russian Reinforcements, and Gamers Getting Played
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Real Salt Lake keeps finding new ways to disappoint, gifting the LA Galaxy their first win of the season in spectacular fashion. Meanwhile, the Utah Mammoth lock in two towering Russian prospects to bolster the blue line. And in gaming, Matt breaks down why Elden Ring: Night Reign flopped and how AAA studios are cashing in on your loyalty — again.
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RSL Meltdown, Mammoth Glory, and the Gaming Summer Ahead
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In this Memorial Day weekend edition of The Matt Cave, Matt breaks down Real Salt Lake’s gut-wrenching 2-3 collapse against Vancouver and raises serious questions about the club's leadership, captaincy choices, and lackluster roster beyond Diego Luna.
He then celebrates Team USA’s exhilarating overtime win over Switzerland at the IIHF World Championship, led by Utah Mammoth stars Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller, Josh Doan, and Michael Kesselring.
Shifting gears, Matt previews the Mammoth’s exciting offseason—armed with the #4 pick, cap space, and a hunger for star power (hello, Mi...
RSL's Harsh Reality, Mammoth on the World Stage & Gaming Goodness
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In this week’s spelunk into The Matt Cave, the optimism surrounding Real Salt Lake has evaporated. Matt breaks down a rough two-game stretch, the scoring crisis plaguing the team, and the looming shadow of a rebuild that may be inevitable—yes, even involving Diego Luna.
Then it's off to the IIHF World Championship, where Utah Mammoth players are repping the USA, Canada, and Czechia with pride (and some serious stats). What does it mean for the club and the future?
Plus: a loaded dive into the world of vide...
Rigged: The NBA’s Big Market Fix is Alive and Well
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No intro music. No jokes. Just fire.
Matt breaks down the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery disaster—where the Jazz fell to 5th despite having the best odds—while Dallas, San Antonio, and Philly magically rose to the top.
He exposes the patterns, the hypocrisy, and the league’s blatant disrespect for small-market teams.
If you still believe the NBA Lottery is fair after this episode, you’re not paying attention.
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NBA Lottery Conspiracies, Bungie’s Bizarre Lawsuit, and RSL Sees Red Again
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This week in The Matt Cave:
🏀 The NBA Draft Lottery is almost here—and Matt breaks down the Jazz’s odds, the top prospects, and why the entire lottery system might be due for a major shakeup.
⚽ Real Salt Lake just can't stop getting red cards. Matt vents his frustration as RSL once again plays with 10 men and drops points they should’ve earned.
⚖️ In gaming news: Bungie is being sued for allegedly stealing Destiny 2’s Red War storyline… from a WordPress blog. The legal circus has Matt laughing and s...
Utah Hockey Club Becomes the Mammoth: Reactions, Rants & Hidden Logo Details
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🚨 BREAKING BONUS EPISODE! 🚨
The Utah Hockey Club has officially revealed its permanent name: The Utah Mammoth. In this quick-hit emergency spelunk, Matt breaks down the name reveal, digs into the branding rollout, unpacks the community-driven process (for better or worse), and gives you his honest thoughts on the new identity.
From “Tusks Up” to Mammoth Sands font, from YouTube leaks to puff pieces, and from potential lawsuits to paleontology, it’s all here. Plus: why Blizz would’ve been a branding disaster, and how Utah avoided going full Boaty McBoatface.
💥 First r...
Utah Hockey Hits the IIHF, BYU’s Portal Wins, and Xbox’s Faceplant
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Spring might be rough on Matt’s sinuses, but the Utah sports scene keeps him going!
This week, he breaks down the Utah Hockey Club’s big presence at the 2025 IIHF World Championship — with Clayton Keller rocking the “C” for Team USA and multiple players repping internationally.
Then, it’s portal madness for BYU: from the Bachmeier brothers joining the football squad to a men’s basketball roster rebuild that looks... terrifying in the best way.
Finally, Matt takes Microsoft to task for jacking up Xbox prices and $80 games...
Utah’s Quiet NFL Draft, RSL’s Big Transfer Splash, Oblivion’s Chaotic Comeback
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From Utah’s draft flop to Real Salt Lake’s surprising spending spree — plus Oblivion breaking (and stealing) hearts again
The 2025 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and Matt dives deep into how players from Utah colleges fared, where they landed, and what it means for their future.
Real Salt Lake's surprising moves at the MLS transfer deadline, including the signings of William Agada and Johnny Russell, and what it signals about new ownership's ambitions. Could Matt be wrong already?
Plus, a breakdown of the Elder Scrolls...
Real Salt Lake’s New Owners: A Budget-Ball Disaster Waiting to Happen
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This week on The Matt Cave:
⚽ Rant Alert: Real Salt Lake is now owned by the Miller family, and Matt has thoughts. Spoiler: it’s not good. From price hikes to budget ball 2.0, this is the sequel nobody asked for—and fans should be furious.🏒 Utah Hockey Club Offseason Wishlist: Who should Utah target in free agency and trades? Matt breaks down the big names and bold moves needed to take the leap next season.🏀 Utah Jazz Rebuild Watch: Could Devin Booker be a target if the Jazz lan...Utah Sports Wrap-Up, BYU’s Recruiting Boom, and Nintendo’s Tone-Deaf Take
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The seasons are winding down, but the drama is just heating up.
This week in The Matt Cave, Matt breaks down the Utah Jazz's 60-loss season and their odds of landing Cooper Flagg.
He dives into the Utah Hockey Club’s narrow playoff miss and why they’re still one of the most exciting teams in the league.
Real Salt Lake adds more heartbreak with a last-minute loss in Nashville.
But there’s hope down south — BYU is on fire with the best football and basketball...
Utah Hockey Club’s Playoff Dream, Jazz Tank Watch, and Nintendo’s $500 Mistake
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In this week’s episode of The Matt Cave Podcast, Matt dives into a wild week across Utah sports and the gaming world.
Real Salt Lake grabs a win over a shorthanded LA Galaxy, but how long can they hold onto Diego Luna?
The Utah Jazz are sprinting toward the draft lottery finish line—but will the NBA let them win the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes?
The Utah Hockey Club might be on life support, but there’s still a flicker of playoff hope—and Matt is ALL in on hocke...
Utah Sports Breakdown: BYU Out, Utes in Weird Tourney, Jazz Tank, RSL Woes
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It’s been a rough week for Utah sports fans.
In this episode of The Matt Cave, Matt breaks down the Utes' odd appearance in the College Basketball Crown—a new and bizarre postseason tournament.
BYU crashes out of the NCAA tournament while its players face major decisions.
Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz are leaning into late-season losses, and the Utah Hockey Club is slipping at the worst time.
Oh—and Real Salt Lake? Ownership drama, no attack, and a whole lot of frustration.
Buckle in...
March Madness in Utah: BYU Advances, UHC Thrives, RSL Controversy
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It’s madness in March, and BYU is back in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since Jimmer-mania! 🏀 The Cougars lit it up and punched their ticket to the second weekend, bringing back memories of 2011 and sparking hopes of another deep tourney run.
Meanwhile, the Utah Hockey Club puts on an absolute show with a performance that has fans buzzing, and RSL gets done dirty with one of the most questionable red cards we’ve seen in a while. ⚽
Matt’s breaking it all down with passion, takes, and just th...
Bracketology Chaos: BYU’s Path to the Elite Eight?
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March Madness is here, and the brackets are wild!
BYU lands a No. 6 seed—can they make a deep run?
Utah State gets a favorable matchup, but how far can the Aggies go?
Matt breaks it all down, including his best (and worst) bracket picks.
Plus, the Utah Jazz are tanking perfectly (even the NBA noticed), and the Utah Hockey Club is in a heated playoff race.
Oh, and RSL actually won in Houston?!
All of this and more in this jam-pac...
🏀 March Madness Looms: BYU & Utah’s Tournament Hopes, RSL’s Struggles & More!
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Sometimes, losing is the best path forward. Matt breaks down why the Utah Jazz’s recent struggles could actually be a good thing as they position themselves for better lottery odds.
🏀 College Hoops: BYU and Utah are in the thick of March Madness talk—who’s trending up, and who needs a miracle?
⚽ Real Salt Lake: A tough start—what needs to change?
🏒 Utah Hockey Club: The momentum is real, and the fan base is growing fast!
All that and more on The...
Monster Hunting & Tanking? UHC’s Next Move & the Jazz’s ‘Winning’ Problem
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Will the Utah Hockey Club make some moves—or will they ride it out with the young core?
Meanwhile, the Jazz are winning… which is actually a bad thing. With the NBA Draft looming, are these wins hurting their future?
Plus, Matt got his hands on Monster Hunter Wilds! First impressions—does it live up to the hype, or is it just another hunt?
Join Matt in The Matt Cave Podcast for another deep dive into Utah sports and gaming!
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Stop Winning: The Utah Sports Paradox
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In this episode of The Matt Cave, Matt dives into the latest Utah sports drama.
He starts with a detailed breakdown of Real Salt Lake’s dismal season opener—highlighting their possession versus finishing woes.
Matt then rants about the Utah Jazz, who are winning games they should be losing in order to tank for a better draft pick, and shifts to the Utah Hockey Club, criticizing their defensive lapses despite offensive sparks.
Finally, he covers college basketball, comparing the recent successes and challenges of both the Univers...
All Star Weekend Blues, RSLs Season Begins and What World of Warcraft is Missing
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This week on The Matt Cave Podcast, Matt dives into All-Star Weekend and who gets it wrong, who gets it right and if Gary Bettman actually got something right!
Then, he shifts gears to Real Salt Lake as they kick off their 2025 MLS season. What are the biggest storylines heading into the season, and what can we expect from RSL this year?
Finally, Matt takes a detour into the world of gaming, breaking down what’s missing from World of Warcraft and what Blizzard needs to do to bring bac...
Super Bowl LIX Reaction, Jazz Trades Summed Up, UHC Makes History
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In this episode of The Matt Cave Podcast, Matt breaks down the most boring Super Bowl we’ve seen in nearly a decade (seriously, yawn city).
Then, he untangles the Utah Jazz’s trade moves—who’s gone, who’s still here, and what it means.
Utah Hockey Club makes history with their first-ever overtime shootout win, while BYU Men’s basketball... well, let’s just say they really need to hit those threes.
Finally, Matt gives a brutally honest review of Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
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Jazz Trades, UHC NOT Trading and Super Bowl LIX Preview
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Matt picks the Super Bowl winner for the 59th edition! Chiefs? Eagles!? Matt will tell you who and why!
The Jazz had a busy weekend but what were they doing? Matt tells you why he thinks Danny Ainge is taking the Godfather approach to the rest of the NBA.
The Club missed out on another star caliber player in the trade market. What are they doing? Will they get any better? Will it be a repeat of last season!?
There are two HUGE games coming out in F...
UHC, UTJ, BYU, UU, DWO OK!?
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This week, Matt catches up with the Utah Hockey Club, the Utah Jazz, BYU Men's Basketball, Utah Men's Basketball and reviews the newest installment of the Dynasty Warriors franchise!
The Club missed out on Matt's pie in the sky trade. What was it? Will/are they being active in the trade market?? Matt gives the answers.
The Jazz are losing, but are they losing "correctly"? What does that even mean? Who are the Jazzmen most likely to be moved? Matt has those answers too!
College basketball is...
BYU Football 2024 Season In Review
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Matt finishes his look back at the year that was for the Big 3 college football schools in Utah!
Ending with Brigham Young University, Matt will dive into the overall season performance, where he thought they would finish going into the season and the amount of production lost to the transfer portal.
How did BYU do? Well... in a word, fantastically! Listen now to hear where the Cougars succeeded, where they looked worse than a Jake Retzlaff throw and the changes that are coming in 2025.
Stick around until...
University of Utah Football 2024 Year In Review
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Matt continues his look back at the year that was for the Big 3 college football schools in Utah!
Moving on with the University of Utah, Matt will dive into the overall season performance, where he thought they would be going into the season and the amount of production lost to the transfer portal.
How did Utah do? Well... we all know... Listen now to hear where the Utes succeeded (Yes, there was some bright spots!), where they fell harder than a Cam Rising sack and the changes that are c...
Utah State Football 2024 Year in Review
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It's time to take a look back at the year that was for the Big 3 college football schools in Utah!
Starting with Utah State, Matt will dive into the overall season performance, where he thought they would be going into the season and the amount of production lost to transfer, graduation and the NFL Draft.
How did Utah State do? Well, actually BETTER than the prediction! Listen now to hear where the Aggies exceeded, where they fell flatter than a piece of paper and the changes that are coming...
BYU Bowl Reaction, The Club Is Not Comfortable at Home and the Jazz
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Well, Matt was not expecting THAT from the Cougars! He breaks down what he saw and puts a little damper on the end of the season party that occurred in San Antonio.
Matt would like to know what is going on with the Club's home performances. Is it as simple as how the bowl is set? Matt gets into some ideas.
Lastly, the Jazz seem to have figured out the formula that Matt has been preaching all season. What is it?
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