The Utah Checkdown

It's March, which means conference basketball tournaments and the ensuing NCAA Tournament experience. But as Utah experiences the Big 12 Tournament for the first time in Kansas City, host Josh Furlong found himself immersed in a hotly-debated conversation about the location of the conference tournament. Are you Team Las Vegas or Team Kansas City? Are there advantages to either location? He also ha...

A week after the University of Utah fired men's basketball head coach Craig Smith, the coaching search has circled around one person. Host Josh Furlong gives an updated on the Utah coaching search and why former Runnin' Utes star Alex Jensen remains the only name for the job. He also breaks down what it could mean for Utah with Jensen at the helm. Who would Jensen bring on staff? What players woul...

It was an opportunity wasted. The Runnin' Utes had two wins over the Kansas schools and had some momentum going into the final stretch of the regular season. The problem? The Runnin' Utes became their own worst enemies. Host Josh Furlong breaks down Utah's weekend loss to a bad UCF team and what it means moving forward. He also breaks down the successes of the Utah women's basketball team as they...

This week, leaders from the Big Ten and SEC are laying the groundwork to expanding the College Football Playoffs to 14 or 16 teams. Host Josh Furlong breaks down the plans and what an expansion of the playoff would look like, while also looking as some of the ramifications for teams like Utah. He also gives an update on a Utah bill that is being reviewed at the state legislature that would allow a...

It was a great weekend to be a Utah fan — from Utah women's basketball overwhelming Arizona State on the road to the Runnin' Utes getting an upset win over then-No. 17 Kansas. Host Josh Furlong recaps the weekend's games and what they could mean for the respective teams going forward. Could there be an improved postseason for both teams? Josh also talks spring football and a little of what to expe...

It's been a busy week for Utah athletics, and it's the women that are consistently in the spotlight. The women's basketball team continue to pile up wins, with Gianna Kneepkens scoring at a career-best in nearly every game. The Red Rocks also celebrated 50 years of dominance, with Avery Neff coming back from injury to highlight an electric night. Host Josh Furlong highlights these women and their...

The 2025 season is still months away, but now you can start planning out your weekends in fall. Host Josh Furlong takes the full episode to breakdown Utah football's 2025 schedule. He takes a look at each game and how it sets up for the Utes, as well as key takeaways. He also lightly reviews other schools in the Big 12 to see what teams have interesting components to their schedule that may impact...

It's January and there's already one prominent figure that has labeled Utah football his favorite to win the Big 12 and be included in the 12-team playoff. Host Josh Furlong takes a look at the playoff report to see if there's any merit to the claim, while also giving an update on some of the things happening around the football world. He also breaks down the most recent NCAA revenue and expenses...

Two former Utah football players were right in the mix of the AFC Championship game, but neither will appear in the Super Bowl after more Mahomes magic. Host Josh Furlong talks about Dalton Kincaid and Cole Bishop's impact in the NFL, as well as taking a look at the problems facing the Runnin' Utes. Has Utah embraced mediocrity for men's basketball? Is there hope for change? Does Utah even have th...

The 2024-25 college football season officially wrapped up this week when Ohio State defeated Notre Dame to claim the national championship. And immediately, the 2025 season Heisman odds were released. Host Josh Furlong weighs in on the early Heisman odds, which includes new Utah QB Devon Dampier. Is he a legit contender for the award? Should Utah fans embrace this? He also talks about some preseas...

Utah football held a press conference with Kyle Whittingham, Morgan Scalley and Jason Beck earlier this week, and the trio documented all the happenings that have taken place in the short offseason. Host Josh Furlong goes through each of the talking points to see the plan Utah football has created for itself. Though early in the process, there's optimism about Utah's future. Will it all be good en...

The NCAA is looking at a potential change to its eligibility rule that would allow athletes to have five full seasons, while eliminating the redshirt season. Host Josh Furlong takes a look at the change and what it could mean for Utah, particularly in the case of wide receiver Dorian Singer, who has expressed interest in coming back for another season. He also talks about the contrasting Huntsman...

The transfer portal window officially closed Saturday at 11:59 p.m., but Utah lost 21 players to the portal. While some players were expected, others were poached by other teams, leading to many question about tampering in college athletics. Host Josh Furlong breaks down the transfer portal window and all that took place for the Utes, while looking at the tampering rumors and what it all actually...

The 2024 season has been over for a few weeks now, but the program has been hard at work already in the offseason to prepare for the next year. Host Josh Furlong provides an update on the two new position coaches Utah hired and what it will mean, as well as giving a look at who Utah lost and gained in the transfer portal over the last week. He also gives a look at the men's and women's basketball...

The transfer portal has officially opened, and Utah will take full advantage of it after hitting a reset on offense. Host Josh Furlong takes a look at why Utah is hitting the reset button, who has left Utah, and where Utah can look moving forward to build up the roster ahead of the 2025 season. He also talks about Kyle Whittingham's return to Utah for another season and what that could mean for Ut...

The offseason is here for Utah football, which means a whirlwind of change in the coming months. Host Josh Furlong recaps the end of Utah football's season and where the program goes from here. Will Kyle Whittingham return? What will the roster look like? He also breaks down the new hire for offensive coordinator and what it could mean for the Utah offense moving forward. Stay up to date with Univ...

The Utah football team will honor its seniors on Saturday, with Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe being included in that group. Host Josh Furlong gives you an inside look at the emotions of what that will mean for the players and coaches, who will honor their fallen teammates. He also takes a look at when Kyle Whittingham will call it a career. He also recaps the Lynne Roberts leaving to LA Sparks news and...

Amid a six-game losing streak, Utah football is starting to look to the future. There's still hope for a bowl game, but there's pressing matters on hand. Host Josh Furlong recaps the Colorado game, as well as the pressing matters that Utah needs to address as it prepares for the offseason — including the future of Kyle Whittingham as head coach, the hiring of a new offensive coordinator and more....

As if losing wasn't enough for Utah, the week after has been filled with more news to make life as a Utes fan tough. Host Josh Furlong provides an update on all things that have transpired since last week, including Brandon Rose suffering a season-ending injury, and how all this will impact the offseason. He also gives a preview of a Colorado team that is playing well and features arguably two of...

For Utah, a defensive holding call changed the tone of the rivalry game — from a game-winning sack to suddenly a winning field goal by BYU in the waning seconds. Host Josh Furlong recaps the end of the game and what took place in the final minute of game time, as well as all the fallout that took place after the game. Though Utah is frustrated by the call, there's likely more Utah could have done...

The week is finally here, where BYU and Utah will battle it out on the field in the annual rivalry game — back together in the same conference. Host Josh Furlong is joined by Bryan Brown to breakdown the rivalry game, while previewing how this game should go. The two look at Utah's keys to success, while highlighting why BYU has been so good this season. Can Utah win this game? That's the question...

After a much-needed bye week, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham feels confident in his plan going into the in-state rivalry game with BYU on Saturday. Host Josh Furlong reacts to Whittingham's decision to keep things quiet on the QB front — who is starting this week? — as well as looking at the team's identity and where everything went wrong. Can Utah use the bye week to regroup and return to its w...

Utah is on its second bye week, and Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is using that time to determine whether Isaac Wilson should remain the team's starting quarterback, or if backup Brandon Rose should get the nod. Host Josh Furlong looks at this QB battle ... that is happening again ... and gives his take on the situation using some numbers. He also breaks down the true freshman experience to com...

A road game against Houston was supposed to help Utah get out of a rut and return to its winning ways. But none of that happened. Host Josh Furlong recaps Utah's loss to Houston and where it all went wrong on Saturday. It's a team looking for answers, but nobody has been able to get the team out of its rut. He also debates the decision to bench Isaac Wilson for Brandon Rose, and gives his insight...

As Utah prepares for a road contest against a bad Houston team, the focus turns to a Utes offense that has failed to produce the last few weeks. Host Josh Furlong takes a look at interim offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian and what he can do to help the offense move the ball. Will the offense get a spark from a change at OC, or will it be more of the same. He also talks about Utah's defense this s...