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The University of Utah Athletics
Thursday, August 29
Salt Lake City, Utah
7 p.m.
University of Utah
vs
Southern Utah
Utah Football Ready To Kickoff 2024 Season vs. Southern Utah
8/24/2024 11:02 AM | Football
THE GAME
The University of Utah Football team is beginning a new era when it officially starts its first season in the Big 12 Conference on Thursday, Aug. 29, kicking off the 2024 season against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The game will begin at 7 p.m. MT. with Utah honoring Ute great Alex Smith for his Ring of Honor Induction at halftime.Â
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can get behind the scenes views and live updates on social media and online at www.UtahUtes.com throughout the 2024 season. The Utes are active on Twitter (@Utah_Football), Instagram (@UtahFootball), Facebook (search Utah Football) and TikTok (@Utah_Football).
HOME SWEET HOME
Utah is 118-37 (.759) in Rice-Eccles Stadium (1998-present) and is 90-26 in RES during the Kyle Whittingham era.
•   Utah has five undefeated home seasons under Whittingham (2022, 6-0; 2021, 6-0; 2019, 7-0; 2009, 6-0; 2008, 6-0) with the Utes winning 31 of their last 33 home games, which included a streak of 18 in a row from Dec. 5, 2020 – Oct. 14, 2023. Â
•   It was the second-longest streak in the Whittingham era with the longest streak taking place Sept. 15, 2007 – Oct. 23, 2010 (21 games).
•   Utah has sold out Rice-Eccles Stadium in 83 consecutive games, dating back to the 2010 season opener.
THE NUMBERS
•   Head Coach Kyle Whittingham is set to coach in his 368th overall game at Utah and his 242nd as head coach on Thursday.
•   Utah is 78-51-1 all-time in season openers with just three season-opening losses in the last 17 seasons. Â
•   The Utes have opened the year at home 14 times in the Whittingham era and are 13-1 in those games.
•   Utah and Southern Utah will faceoff for the third time in program history on Thursday with all three games taking place in Rice-Eccles Stadium (2016, 2022, 2024).
UTAH FOOTBALL: NEED TO KNOWS
•   Utah enters the season ranked No. 12 in the AP and No. 13 in the AFCA Coaches preseason polls, the sixth straight year the Utes have started the season ranked.  Â
•   Head coach Kyle Whittingham is entering his 20th season at the helm as the longest-tenured coach in the Big 12 (by 26 days) and the second-longest tenured coach at the same school in the FBS.
•   The Utes have posted a winning record in 10 straight seasons, dating back to 2014. Utah has also finished with a winning season in 17 of Whittingham's 19 years as head coach.  Â
•   Starting its first year in the Big 12, Utah was voted to win the conference in the preseason media poll with the most first place votes.
•   Seniors Brant Kuithe (TE) and Junior Tafuna (DT), along with junior Jack Bouwmeester (P), all earned preseason All-Big 12.Â
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience that offers access to news and information, schedules, rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos, and allows fans to buy and manage game tickets and order concessions straight from their mobile device. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready!
Â
The University of Utah Football team is beginning a new era when it officially starts its first season in the Big 12 Conference on Thursday, Aug. 29, kicking off the 2024 season against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The game will begin at 7 p.m. MT. with Utah honoring Ute great Alex Smith for his Ring of Honor Induction at halftime.Â
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can get behind the scenes views and live updates on social media and online at www.UtahUtes.com throughout the 2024 season. The Utes are active on Twitter (@Utah_Football), Instagram (@UtahFootball), Facebook (search Utah Football) and TikTok (@Utah_Football).
HOME SWEET HOME
Utah is 118-37 (.759) in Rice-Eccles Stadium (1998-present) and is 90-26 in RES during the Kyle Whittingham era.
•   Utah has five undefeated home seasons under Whittingham (2022, 6-0; 2021, 6-0; 2019, 7-0; 2009, 6-0; 2008, 6-0) with the Utes winning 31 of their last 33 home games, which included a streak of 18 in a row from Dec. 5, 2020 – Oct. 14, 2023. Â
•   It was the second-longest streak in the Whittingham era with the longest streak taking place Sept. 15, 2007 – Oct. 23, 2010 (21 games).
•   Utah has sold out Rice-Eccles Stadium in 83 consecutive games, dating back to the 2010 season opener.
THE NUMBERS
•   Head Coach Kyle Whittingham is set to coach in his 368th overall game at Utah and his 242nd as head coach on Thursday.
•   Utah is 78-51-1 all-time in season openers with just three season-opening losses in the last 17 seasons. Â
•   The Utes have opened the year at home 14 times in the Whittingham era and are 13-1 in those games.
•   Utah and Southern Utah will faceoff for the third time in program history on Thursday with all three games taking place in Rice-Eccles Stadium (2016, 2022, 2024).
UTAH FOOTBALL: NEED TO KNOWS
•   Utah enters the season ranked No. 12 in the AP and No. 13 in the AFCA Coaches preseason polls, the sixth straight year the Utes have started the season ranked.  Â
•   Head coach Kyle Whittingham is entering his 20th season at the helm as the longest-tenured coach in the Big 12 (by 26 days) and the second-longest tenured coach at the same school in the FBS.
•   The Utes have posted a winning record in 10 straight seasons, dating back to 2014. Utah has also finished with a winning season in 17 of Whittingham's 19 years as head coach.  Â
•   Starting its first year in the Big 12, Utah was voted to win the conference in the preseason media poll with the most first place votes.
•   Seniors Brant Kuithe (TE) and Junior Tafuna (DT), along with junior Jack Bouwmeester (P), all earned preseason All-Big 12.Â
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience that offers access to news and information, schedules, rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos, and allows fans to buy and manage game tickets and order concessions straight from their mobile device. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready!
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Players Mentioned
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Kyle Bonagura
Wednesday, December 03
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Yogi Roth
Tuesday, December 02
NSD26: Dylan Waters
Tuesday, December 02
NSD26: Tayson Reid
Tuesday, December 02