SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Texas Tech vs. Utah might not have gotten ESPN’s “GameDay” seal of approval, but it should have. While the crew sets up shop in Miami to watch two Sunshine State schools politely reenact an episode of “Cops,” the real meat of Saturday’s Week 4 college football buffet is hiding in the mountains.
No. 16 Utah (3-0) hosts No. 17 Texas Tech (3-0) at Rice-Eccles Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on FOX. That’s right: a Big 12 showdown in Salt Lake City on Big Noon, meaning a breakfast game for those in the area. How absurd for the folks in Salt Lake, but a treat of pancakes and mimosas for the rest of us.
If these two can kick things off at 10 a.m. there’s nothing stopping an early east-coast game between a pair of Sun Belt foes, right? Put it on a streaming service or non-ESPN/FOX network and you don’t sabotage your own network’s pregame show. Feels like a no brainer for Peacock, CBS or the CW, right?
Alright, back to the game.
Texas Tech and Utah remind the world the Big 12 can still play playoff caliber football on Saturday.
This is where we remind you that the Pac-12 used to be a thing, until it tripped over its shoelaces, fell into a ditch, and let everyone else claim its toys. The Big Ten snagged the California schools, while somehow leaving an annually competitive Utah behind. Big mistake. The Big 12 scooped up the Utes, and now we get gems like this. America’s Conference, indeed.
A Tale of Two Starts
Texas Tech, led by quarterback Behren Morton, has done exactly what you’d expect in three games against Pine Bluff, Kent State and Oregon State — win and win big. Morton has been sharp, the offense has been explosive, and the Red Raiders’ boosters are already congratulating themselves for building a football program that’s more than tortillas and nostalgia.
Utah has taken a more respectable path to 3-0, blasting UCLA in Pasadena, feeding on Cal Poly, and methodically handling Wyoming in a once rare Power 4 road trip to a Group of 5 foe. Devon Dampier has been efficient, the defense has been stingy, and head coach Kyle Whittingham once again looks like the guy who could take a high school debate team and get them bowl eligible.
What’s at Stake
This is the Big 12 opener for both teams, and it’s a big one. Lose here, and you’re playing catch-up in a league that has Iowa State, Arizona State, TCU and a handful of others lurking. Win here, and you’re a legitimate playoff dark horse. It’s not hyperbole — both squads are ranked, both are undefeated, and the AP voters are always looking for an excuse to bump somebody up when another SEC team stubs its toe to Arkansas or Mississippi State.
And just imagine the playoff committee meeting: “Yes, but did you see what Utah did to Texas Tech at noon on a Saturday?”
If only they met in September. Even if we don’t get rankings til Halloween, it still feels like a necessary good for the committee to gather each week, right? It can be a weekly Zoom call for all we care!
Coaches in Focus
Whittingham is college football’s version of that reliable old truck in your neighbor’s driveway — not flashy, but you know it’s starting every Saturday. He’s built Utah into a program that wins in whatever conference it happens to be in that year.
Joey McGuire at Texas Tech? He’s more like the shiny new sports car, promising speed and fireworks, with or without Zach Kittley. The Red Raiders are trying to shed their reputation as a “fun” program and instead be a serious contender, much like the other ranked Tech in Atlanta. McGuire’s job is to prove that Lubbock can produce more than upsets and tortilla confetti.
The Big Picture
FOX gets this one, with kickoff at 12 p.m. ET. It’s not prime time, but it’s perfect for a sneaky great appetizer before Auburn-Oklahoma and Florida-Miami later in the day. And yes, Kirk Herbstreit could have flown from Salt Lake to Norman if GameDay had set up shop here, but that’s too logical.
The prediction? Utah has the defense, Texas Tech has the offense, and the home crowd at Rice-Eccles might just tip the balance. Either way, this one feels like it will be plastered on highlight reels by the time Saturday night rolls around.
Prediction:
Utah 31, Texas Tech 24
Under 57.5
Make sure to check back with us for our How to Watch guide on Texas Tech vs. Utah, which includes radio broadcast information and all of that fun stuff.
We’ll also have full stat breakdowns, Sagarin comparisons and other fun things. The weekend is almost here!
Check Out All EasySportz College Football Content Here!
Looking Back on Vandy Football
