New Conference Doesn’t Mean New Foes For Utah Utes
Like the popularity of Usher, the PAC-12 conference is beginning to fade away.
The former two time PAC-12 conference champions, the Utah Utes, are now gearing up for what is set to be an electric Big 12 debut.
With a shiny new conference, typically comes brand new rivalries and feuds between with programs who are relatively unique to the type of opponents you've been playing before.
Utah certainly experienced a big time transition when leaving the Mountain West for the PAC-12, going from battling Air Force to Oregon.
This go round, the changes don’t feel as heavy handed.
Out of Utah’s 12 opponents in the Big 12, only one is a true newcomer.
Other teams have had large gaps between the last time they took on the Utes, but have a history regardless.
A good chunk of teams have the seen the Utes as late as just last season, a byproduct of not only Utah joining the PAC-12, but 3 other former conference rivals.
25 percent of the schedule are teams Utah shared a conference with last year.
Apparently this is also a bad year for making new frenemies due to the Utes playing not one, not two, but three schools withing Utah itself.
With BYU, Utah State and Southern Utah on tap, that's another 25 percent dedicated to some familiar names.
That leaves only half of the schedule to fill the category of “new conference rival” and even that 50 percent is filled with teams that Utah has recently squared off against.
Here’s the best breakdown I can muster:
PAC-12 TRANSPLANTS:
ARIZONA WILDCATS: 9/28/24
Last meeting: 2023 (Arizona 42-18)
Utah streak: Lost one.
Overall Record: 26-20-2 Utah Leads
@ ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS: 10/11/2024
Last meeting: 2023 (Utah 55-3)
Utah streak: Won four (2019-2023)
Overall Record: 22-12 Arizona State leads
@ COLORADO BUFFALOES: 11/16/2024
Last meeting: 2023 (Utah 23-17)
Utah streak: Won Seven (2017-2023)
Overall Record: 35-32-3 Utah Leads
THE IN STATE RIVALS:
SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDER-BIRDS: 8/29/24
Last meeting: 2022 (73-7 Utah)
Utah streak: Won Two
Overall Record: 2-0 Utah leads
@ UTAH STATE AGGIES: 9/14/24
Last meeting: 2015 (24-14 Utah)
Utah streak: Won Two
Overall Record: 79-30-4 Utah Leads
BYU COUGARS: 11/9/24
Last meeting: 2021 (26-17 BYU)
Utah streak: Lost one.
Overall Record: 59-32-4 Utah Leads
THERE’S A HISTORY HERE:
The history may not be overly deep here, but it does exist.
Whether it be former Mountain West rival (TCU) or a team they saw out of confrere as early as last season (Baylor).
TCU HORNED FROGS: 10/19/24
Last meeting: 2010 (47-7 TCU)
Utah streak: Lost Two
Overall Record: 5-3 Utah Leads
BAYLOR BEARS: 9/7/2024
Last meeting: 2023 (20-13 Utah)
Utah streak: Won One
Overall Record: 1-0 Utah Leads
IOWA STATE CYCLONES: 11/23/24
Last meeting: 2010 (68-27 Utah)
Utah streak: Won 1.
Overall Record: 4-1 Iowa State Leads
THERE’S A HISTORY… TECHNICALLY.
These teams have faced off against Utah, but generations have passed since.
@ OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS:
Last meeting: 1945 (46-6 Oklahoma State)
Utah streak: Lost one.
Overall Record: 1-0 Oklahoma State leads
@ HOUSTON COUGARS;
Last meeting: 1978 (42-25 Houston)
Utah streak: Lost four
Overall Record: 4-0 Houston Leads.
THE ONE BRAND NEW OPPONENT:
Only one opponent sits on the schedule the Utes have never seen in person.
Sure, the new feud with Baylor could be fun.
Houston and Oklahoma State feel fresh, but only one has that brand spanking new appeal.
Which makes it all the more puzzling that Utah and this foreign team square off during rivalry week, when BYU is right there!
That team of course is none other than the UCF GOLDEN KNIGHTS.
If your a fan looking to brag about your fandom in the new conference, look no further than being a part of history as the first meeting between the Utes and the Golden Knights (not the Vegas variety) goes down on November 29th in central Florida.
Familiarity or not, Utah’s first year in the Big 12 will capture a lot of folks attention, for better or for worse and I for one cannot wait.
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