Aug 283 min read

Utah Utes vs. Southern Utah: Preview of Key Players, Insight

Southern Utah @ Utah Utes — ©Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

The Southern Utah Thunderbirds travel north to face the Utah Utes as both teams kick off their college football seasons. This Week 1 matchup starts at 9 p.m. EST on Aug. 29 in Salt Lake City.

For the Utes, this will be their first official game as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The Thunderbirds begin their second season in the United Athletic Conference.

What's at Stake?

Utah is the team many experts are picking to win the Big 12, so starting the season off right is crucial. The last time that the Utes and Thunderbirds played was in 2022. The Utes ran Southern Utah out of the stadium, 73-7. The T-Birds want to avenge that loss and show that FCS schools are not to be overlooked. Last season, the T-Birds finished with a record of 6-5, ending the season on a four-game win streak. They will try to ignite that momentum earlier this season and be competitive in the United Athletic Conference.

Key Players: Utah Utes

The Utes have a very well-rounded roster. For the offense, key players will be Utah's returning quarterback and tight end, Cam Rising and Brant Kuithe. Neither one played in a game for the Utes last season. So this game will be a measuring stick to see if they are fully recovered. Emotions may run high for both fans and their teammates as Rising and Kuithe return.

The final key player on offense will be transfer wide receiver Dorian Singer. Stinger, the former Arizona Wildcat and USC Trojan, has proven talent. Getting him to fit in the Utes' offense early is important.

The Utah defense always seems to be a strong point, and this season the story is no different. The Utes return nine starters from last year on defense. Their defensive line is the anchor. Key players to watch here include defensive tackle Junior Tafuna, linebacker Lander Barton and cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn. Tafuna received preseason All-Big 12 honors and potentially might be the best player on this team this year. Barton and Vaughn are players that the Utes want to step up this year, so keep a close eye on those two.

Key Players: Southern Utah

On offense for the Thunderbirds, watch for running backs Bradeon Wissler and Targhee Lambson. If the T-Birds want any sort of offense this game, then they need to make sure these two are hot. Last season, Wissler led the team in rushing yards with 684, scoring 5 touchdowns. While Lambson had fewer yards, he was just as productive with 507 yards and 6 touchdowns. The Utes have a great run defense, but these guys will be Southern Utah's shot at scoring.

On the defensive side of the ball, watch for safety George Ramirez and DT Rylen Sua-Filo. Last year, Ramirez had 48 total tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery. Ramirez will be key in defending the pass against this new Utes pass-catching group. Sua-Filo was big for the T-Birds, getting 28 total tackles, 2 sacks and a fumble recovery as well, per ESPN statistics. These two will be crucial in slowing down the Utes in Week 1.

Trends to Watch

Heading into Week 1, the Utes are the center of attention in the Big 12. Their first game as an official conference member is a major storyline to watch. Utah is trending up with major expectations placed upon it for this season, while Southern Utah will try to hang around in this matchup. The T-Birds hope to be competitive and finish as one of the best in the UAC.