It was a somewhat typical, season-opening Utah-versus-FCS opponent game Thursday night.
Typical, except that it was held at newly expanded Rice-Eccles Stadium, which welcomed fans back for the first time since 2019. And there was a 90-minute weather delay, as well as heartfelt tributes to fallen hero Ty Jordan.
In the end, the No. 24 Utes took care of business against Weber State, one of the nation’s best FCS programs, with a 40-17 victory.
Yet it was a mixed bag for Utah, as coach Kyle Whittingham and his players acknowledged. There’s a lot they need to clean up before next week’s rivalry game at BYU.
“We have a whole laundry list of stuff to work on this week to keep us busy,” Whittingham said. “As players and coaches, we’ve got to be better next week.”
There were several dropped passes, including at least one that could have been a touchdown; a 99-yard kickoff returned for a touchdown by the Wildcats; untimely penalties; a missed PAT; two turnovers; struggles in the red zone.
Whittingham was also concerned about the play of the offensive line. “I don’t think we played well enough up front,” he said. Better coverage in the defensive secondary is a must also, and Whittingham didn’t like seeing Weber State’s seven-minute drive in the second quarter.
