Overview
- ESPN’s College GameDay is on campus in Salt Lake City with Alex Smith as guest picker, and kickoff is set for 10:15 p.m. ET at Rice-Eccles Stadium in the programs’ first-ever meeting.
- Rece Davis called it a "desperation game" for Utah after two conference losses and potential tiebreaker hurdles, while Cincinnati looks to validate its unbeaten Big 12 start.
- Cincinnati will be without leading rusher Evan Pryor, and Utah quarterback Devon Dampier was not on the availability report and is expected to return, with freshman Byrd Ficklin available after starting vs. Colorado.
- Utah’s run-first offense ranks No. 4 nationally and is coming off 422 rushing yards in a 53-7 win over Colorado, facing a Cincinnati front viewed as fundamentally sound in tackling.
- Bearcats QB Brendan Sorsby has produced 20 passing touchdowns against one interception with 425 rushing yards, operating behind a line that has allowed only two sacks all season.