The Matt Cave

Send us Fan Mail Real Salt Lake makes it four unbeaten, but are they for real? Diego Luna's return sparks life into the squad, but will he even be here for their next match? Matt dives deep into RSL's win over Houston, Luna's looming transfer, and the growing tension between short-term results and long-term planning. Then it's Big 12 Media Days recap time: BYU and Utah showed u...

Send us Fan Mail Matt’s back after the holiday weekend with a three-segment breakdown across soccer and hockey, starting with Real Salt Lake’s chaotic 3-2 win over St. Louis City FC. Two own goals, clueless defending, and somehow a win? Yeah, it’s that kind of year in Sandy. Then it’s all eyes on the USMNT as Matt breaks down their undefeated Gold Cup run and explains why this “C team” is actually...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Matt dives into the 2025 NBA and NHL Drafts, and for once, he’s giving himself a little credit. The Utah Jazz surprised fans by drafting Ace Bailey at #5, trading up for Walter Clayton Jr., and grabbing John Tonje in Round 2. He breaks down each pick, roasts ESPN’s anti-small-market narratives, and celebrates a rare aggressive move by Utah’s front office. Then it’s over...

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Matt Cave Podcast , host Matt Smith dives into the high-stakes world of draft strategy as the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth prepare for back-to-back draft nights. With both teams holding top-5 picks, the pressure is on—so Matt’s breaking down what he thinks they’ll do versus what they should do. 🏀 For the Jazz, Matt predicts a predictable pick (hello, Trey Johnson)...

Send us Fan Mail Real Salt Lake finally ends their brutal winless streak — and they did it without Diego Luna.  With the Gold Cup underway, Matt breaks down the USMNT’s roster, their chances (spoiler: not great), and why Luna’s value keeps rising. On the gaming front, Xbox’s showcase delivered big with Clockwork Revolution , Beast of Reincarnation (yes, from Game Freak!), and news of a Halo Combat...

Send us Fan Mail It was a quiet week in Utah sports—but not without drama. In this episode of The Matt Cave : 🇺🇸 Diego Luna earns the start for the USMNT against Turkey and makes a strong case for next summer’s World Cup roster. 🏀 BYU extends Kevin Young after one season. Is it a savvy move or a leap of faith in the new NIL era? 💰 The NCAA’s pay-for-play shift is official—what it means for schoo...

Send us Fan Mail  Real Salt Lake keeps finding new ways to disappoint, gifting the LA Galaxy their first win of the season in spectacular fashion. Meanwhile, the Utah Mammoth lock in two towering Russian prospects to bolster the blue line. And in gaming, Matt breaks down why Elden Ring: Night Reign flopped and how AAA studios are cashing in on your loyalty — again.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this Memorial Day weekend edition of The Matt Cave , Matt breaks down Real Salt Lake’s gut-wrenching 2-3 collapse against Vancouver and raises serious questions about the club's leadership, captaincy choices, and lackluster roster beyond Diego Luna.  He then celebrates Team USA’s exhilarating overtime win over Switzerland at the IIHF World Championship, led by Utah Mammoth...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s spelunk into The Matt Cave, the optimism surrounding Real Salt Lake has evaporated. Matt breaks down a rough two-game stretch, the scoring crisis plaguing the team, and the looming shadow of a rebuild that may be inevitable—yes, even involving Diego Luna. Then it's off to the IIHF World Championship, where Utah Mammoth players are repping the USA, Canada, and C...

Send us Fan Mail No intro music. No jokes. Just fire. Matt breaks down the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery disaster—where the Jazz fell to 5th despite having the best odds—while Dallas, San Antonio, and Philly magically rose to the top.  He exposes the patterns, the hypocrisy, and the league’s blatant disrespect for small-market teams.  If you still believe the NBA Lottery is fair after this episode, you’r...

Send us Fan Mail This week in The Matt Cave: 🏀 The NBA Draft Lottery is almost here—and Matt breaks down the Jazz’s odds, the top prospects, and why the entire lottery system might be due for a major shakeup. ⚽ Real Salt Lake just can't stop getting red cards. Matt vents his frustration as RSL once again plays with 10 men and drops points they should’ve earned. ⚖️ In gaming news: Bungie is...

Send us Fan Mail 🚨 BREAKING BONUS EPISODE! 🚨 The Utah Hockey Club has officially revealed its permanent name: The Utah Mammoth. In this quick-hit emergency spelunk, Matt breaks down the name reveal, digs into the branding rollout, unpacks the community-driven process (for better or worse), and gives you his honest thoughts on the new identity. From “Tusks Up” to Mammoth Sands font, from YouTube...

Send us Fan Mail Spring might be rough on Matt’s sinuses, but the Utah sports scene keeps him going! This week, he breaks down the Utah Hockey Club’s big presence at the 2025 IIHF World Championship — with Clayton Keller rocking the “C” for Team USA and multiple players repping internationally. Then, it’s portal madness for BYU: from the Bachmeier brothers joining the football squad to a men’s bas...

Send us Fan Mail From Utah’s draft flop to Real Salt Lake’s surprising spending spree — plus Oblivion breaking (and stealing) hearts again  The 2025 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and Matt dives deep into how players from Utah colleges fared, where they landed, and what it means for their future. Real Salt Lake's surprising moves at the MLS transfer deadline, including the signings of...

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Matt Cave: ⚽ Rant Alert : Real Salt Lake is now owned by the Miller family, and Matt has thoughts . Spoiler: it’s not good. From price hikes to budget ball 2.0, this is the sequel nobody asked for—and fans should be furious. 🏒 Utah Hockey Club Offseason Wishlist : Who should Utah target in free agency and trades? Matt breaks down the big names and bold moves nee...

Send us Fan Mail The seasons are winding down, but the drama is just heating up.  This week in The Matt Cave , Matt breaks down the Utah Jazz's 60-loss season and their odds of landing Cooper Flagg.  He dives into the Utah Hockey Club’s narrow playoff miss and why they’re still one of the most exciting teams in the league.  Real Salt Lake adds more heartbreak with a last-minute loss in Nashvi...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode of The Matt Cave Podcast , Matt dives into a wild week across Utah sports and the gaming world.  Real Salt Lake grabs a win over a shorthanded LA Galaxy, but how long can they hold onto Diego Luna?  The Utah Jazz are sprinting toward the draft lottery finish line—but will the NBA let them win the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes?  The Utah Hockey Club might be on li...

Send us Fan Mail It’s been a rough week for Utah sports fans.  In this episode of The Matt Cave , Matt breaks down the Utes' odd appearance in the College Basketball Crown—a new and bizarre postseason tournament.  BYU crashes out of the NCAA tournament while its players face major decisions. Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz are leaning into late-season losses, and the Utah Hockey Club is slipping at...

Send us Fan Mail It’s madness in March, and BYU is back in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since Jimmer-mania! 🏀 The Cougars lit it up and punched their ticket to the second weekend, bringing back memories of 2011 and sparking hopes of another deep tourney run. Meanwhile, the Utah Hockey Club puts on an absolute show with a performance that has fans buzzing, and RSL gets done dirty with one...

Send us Fan Mail March Madness is here, and the brackets are wild !  BYU lands a No. 6 seed—can they make a deep run?  Utah State gets a favorable matchup, but how far can the Aggies go?  Matt breaks it all down, including his best (and worst) bracket picks. Plus, the Utah Jazz are tanking perfectly (even the NBA noticed), and the Utah Hockey Club is in a heated playoff race.  Oh, and RSL actually...

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes, losing is the best path forward. Matt breaks down why the Utah Jazz’s recent struggles could actually be a good thing as they position themselves for better lottery odds. 🏀 College Hoops: BYU and Utah are in the thick of March Madness talk—who’s trending up, and who needs a miracle? ⚽ Real Salt Lake: A tough start—what needs to change? 🏒 Utah Hockey Club: The momentu...

Send us Fan Mail Will the Utah Hockey Club make some moves—or will they ride it out with the young core?  Meanwhile, the Jazz are winning … which is actually a bad thing. With the NBA Draft looming, are these wins hurting their future? Plus, Matt got his hands on Monster Hunter Wilds ! First impressions—does it live up to the hype, or is it just another hunt? Join Matt in The Matt Cave Podcast for...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Matt Cave , Matt dives into the latest Utah sports drama.  He starts with a detailed breakdown of Real Salt Lake’s dismal season opener—highlighting their possession versus finishing woes.  Matt then rants about the Utah Jazz, who are winning games they should be losing in order to tank for a better draft pick, and shifts to the Utah Hockey Club, criticizing...

Send us Fan Mail  This week on The Matt Cave Podcast, Matt dives into All-Star Weekend and who gets it wrong, who gets it right and if Gary Bettman actually got something right! Then, he shifts gears to Real Salt Lake as they kick off their 2025 MLS season. What are the biggest storylines heading into the season, and what can we expect from RSL this year? Finally, Matt takes a detour into the worl...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Matt Cave Podcast , Matt breaks down the most boring Super Bowl we’ve seen in nearly a decade (seriously, yawn city).  Then, he untangles the Utah Jazz’s trade moves—who’s gone, who’s still here, and what it means.  Utah Hockey Club makes history with their first-ever overtime shootout win, while BYU Men’s basketball... well, let’s just say they really need...