CEDAR CITY, Utah - The season opener is fast approaching for the Thunderbirds. They are set to travel north to take on the University of Utah in a week one road game. The matchup will take place at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, August 29, 2024. The game will kick off at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Game Information
Southern Utah at Utah
Date: August 29th, 2024
Kickoff Time: 7:00 PM MT
Venue: Rice-Eccles Stadium
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: KSUB 590
Stats: LiveStats
Check out this Week's Coaches Show
Listen in as host Jon Smith sits down with Coach DeLane Fitzgerald and safety George Ramirez. They break down the matchup with Utah and discuss the last week of fall camp.
The Game
The Thunderbirds open the season picked to finish third in the United Athletic Conference after finishing tied for second in 2023. The T-Birds will look to control a powerful Utah team that is picked to finish at the top of its new conference and enter the 2024 campaign ranked #12 by the associated press.
The last time the T-Birds played the Utes was at the beginning of the 2022 season. The Thunderbirds have come a long way since then and will look to show that on the field Thursday night.
Key T-Birds to Watch:
The Southern Utah Thunderbirds' offensive lineup has some impressive returning players, including the two top rushers from a year ago. Braedon Wissler and Targhee Lambson have shone in the running game during their respective careers with the Thunderbirds. Wissler gained 686 yards on the ground last season with five rushing touchdowns. Wissler also added 126 yards receiving on 11 catches with one touchdown.
Lambson delivered standout performances last season as well, notably securing three touchdowns and over 100 yards against ACU. During the 2023 season, Lambson totaled 483 net yards on the ground, with six touchdowns. Lambson also found the endzone twice through the air, picking up 95 yards on 11 catches.
The Thunderbird defense returns key players in every position group. The top returning tackler, Kohner Cullimore, tallied an impressive 73 takedowns in 2023. Cullimore also notched three sacks among ten tackles for a loss on the year. He was tabbed a Preseason All-UAC player and will look to continue to lead the defense this year.
Up front, the T-Birds return both Rylen Sua-Filo and Payton Payne, who are bound to have an impact with their impressive pass rush abilities. Sua-Filo grabbed two sacks last season and a team-leading seven quarterback hurries. Payne, meanwhile, will continue to be a force on the defensive line for which other teams have to scheme.
In the secondary, safety George Ramirez is back to help lead the defensive unit. Ramirez, who was named to the Phil Steele All-UAC second team, posted an impressive 48 total tackles last year. The senior from Mesa, Arizona, appeared in all 11 games in the Fall of 2023, notching an interception and a fumble recovery to go along with 26 solo tackles.
Unwrapping the Utes
The Utes have a solid core of returning players and some key new additions. Many see them as favorites to win the Big 12 Conference and even contend for a College Football Playoff spot.
A major strength for Utah this season is the experience within their roster. The team boasts a remarkable 468 combined starts among their offensive and defensive units, including 20 players who were part of the program's back-to-back Pac-12 Championship wins in 2021 and 2022. This depth of experience, particularly in critical positions like quarterback, defensive tackle, and linebacker, is expected to be a significant advantage in nearly every game on their schedule.
Complementing this experience are the third-year players who are poised to make significant strides in their development and are set to earn more playing time than they have previously seen. Players like Lander Barton, Keanu Tanuvasa, Jaylon Glover, and Tao Johnson are expected to step up as leaders and become key playmakers.
Offensively, while Utah has traditionally relied on a strong running game under Whittingham, there is a growing expectation that the passing game will play a more prominent role this season. Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig is known for tailoring the offense to the strengths of his best players, and with the talent on the roster, there could be a slight shift toward a more balanced attack. The return of Cam Rising has the Utes offense ready to throw the ball more than it did a year ago.
Tickets
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