Utah Faces Test of Resilience against West Virginia Following Texas Tech Setback
Recent performances have left questions surrounding the Utah Utes football program, marked by inconsistency rather than dominance. A โขkey area of โขconcern remainsโ quarterback play, consistently identified as the most crucialโฃ element of success atโค allโข levels of the game. โฃThe offensive line also showed โขvulnerabilities against Texas Tech, highlighting a need โfor โconsistent playmakers across the offense.
Head Coach Kyle Whittingham acknowledges responsibility for โthese shortcomings,stating,”It’s his team,his program.” However, questioning his coaching โability โis deemed unproductive. The author emphasizes Whittingham’s continued โขcompetence, noting he “is asโ smart as he ever was and he’s as good a โcoach now as โฃhe’s ever been.”
The Utes’ struggles were apparent โin their game against Texas Tech on September 20, 2025. While acknowledging the needโข for improvement, the article โpoints to the Red Raiders’ superior speed โคand strength as a โcontributing factor. The โขoffense must establish a โmore effective running game, with the offensive line creating necessary space. Quarterback Brandon Dampier needs to demonstrate poise and accuracy, avoiding relying solely on scrambling under pressure, asโ heโ is now competing againstโฃ a higher caliberโ of defense. Receivers and runningโฃ backs must also contribute by getting open and making plays.
Looking ahead, the challenge for Whittingham lies in galvanizing the offense. The author notes his past success in motivating players andโค coaches, asking, “will he do it again?” While notโ predicting a guaranteed turnaround, the piece expresses confidence in Whittingham’s ability to improve the team, stating he “hasn’t shrunk into a shellโ of his formerโ self.”
The article concludes with a cautiously optimistic outlook. Barring critically importantโ injuries – specifically questioning Dampier’s health – a repeat of last season’s strugglesโ appears unlikely. The Utes were defeated by a demonstrably superior team โin Texas Tech, but the authorโฃ believes that if Utah remains healthy and executes effectively, they are poised to win a significant number of their remaining games.
