Three Games Utah Fans Should Have Circled in 2024

Utah will play quite a few good opponents in 2024; Here are a few that give way to especially great storylines

Utah’s 2024 schedule just dropped and there is heaps to be excited about. In their inaugural season within the new-look 16-team Big 12 conference, the Utah Utes will face a flock of opponents unfamiliar with the program.

Called in our 16-time national champs for a little help with this one. ⛷️@utahskiteam 🤝 @Utah_Football https://t.co/9mMSdjJYeM pic.twitter.com/FdnFTOxon2

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) January 30, 2024

Utah is set to play 10 games against Big 12 opponents in 2024, including one game against Baylor that doesn't count as an in-conference contest.

Here are three games from Utah's 2024 schedule that fans should have circled on their calendar:

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Oklahoma State (Sept. 21 @ Boone Pickens Stadium | Stillwater, OK)

Utah’s first official game of Big 12 Conference play should be one of its most exciting.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys enter 2024 as the 2023 Big 12 Title runner-ups and are one of the favorites to win the conference this upcoming season.

The Cowboys’ roster will look very different than the last time the Utes faced the squad, mostly because Utah has not faced Oklahoma State since 1945. Utah’s last contest against the Cowboys, which occurred less than six months after the end of WW2, ended in a 46-6 defeat.

The Utes will look to tie their overall series record against Oklahoma State (0-1) with a win on Sept. 21st. 

While it's too early to make predictions, the Cowboys are anticipated to have one of the better rushing offenses in the country, led by the reigning Doak Award winner Ollie Gordon II.

Arizona (Sept. 28 @ Rice-Eccles Stadium | Salt Lake City, UT)

The Big 12 scheduling committee knew what they were doing with this one. Less than a year after the Arizona Wildcats came into Rice-Eccles and crushed Utah 42-18, the Utes will get their chance at revenge.

The Wildcats finished the 2023 season ranked inside of the country’s top-15 best teams, and entering 2024, many thought they would be the team to beat in the Big 12. However, former head coach Jedd Fisch left for Washington and the team has seen several players transfer away, leaving much in the air.

Regardless of coaching and roster turnover, Arizona will still be a competitive team in 2024.

Led by their duo of young offensive playmakers, Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona’s offense, which ranked eighth in YPG in 2023, will most likely remain at a high level. All in all, the Utes will have their handful if they want to settle the score.

BYU (Nov. 9 @ Rice-Eccles Stadium | Salt Lake City, UT)

While the “granddaddy of them all” might refer to the Rose Bowl, Utah’s long-standing rivalry with BYU is close... in terms of age.

2024 will mark the 102nd meeting between Utah and BYU and the revitalization of an all-time college football rivalry.

Moreover, Utah’s Nov. 9th game against BYU will be the first time the “Holy War” has been an in-conference rivalry since 2011 when both teams were a part of the Mountain West Conference.

2024 will be Utah’s first game against BYU since 2021 when it suffered a crushing 26-17 loss in Provo. Although the Utes are 62-35-4 all-time against the Cougars, revenge will be on the team’s mind after their outcome against the Cougars in 2021.

Utah will have multiple players from the 2021 squad that fell to BYU back to play in 2024. Cam Rising, Brant Kuthe, Micah Bernard, Van Fillinger, and Connor O’Toole are a few of the returning competitors that will try to avenge their loss to the “school down south”.