We met up with JT Wistrcill, host of Locked on Utes ahead of TCU’s bout against Utah.
The second half of the season is upon us. After a shaky 3-3 start to the season, there remains ample time for a turnaround. Following a brief hiatus, TCU returns to action against the reeling Utah Utes. The Utes are coming off a second-consecutive loss and recently saw their starting quarterback go down with yet another season-ending injury. Despite the misfortune, the Utes’ are still in position to contend for a Big 12 Championship at this point in the season. With that being said, we caught up with JT Wistrcill, host of Locked on Utes to discuss Utah’s inaugural season in the Big 12, the injury to Cam Rising, and how Utah matches up with TCU.
Frogs O’ War: How successful would you rate the Utah Utes’ first season in the Big 12 on a scale of 1-10? Have expectations been met through three conference games?
Locked on Utes: I’ll go with a 6. Expectations have NOT been met. Utah was the preseason favorite based on the amount of talent they returned. Utah has several key players who were a part of both of Utah’s Pac-12 titles in 2021 and 2022. Including Quarterback Cam Rising who missed last year still recovering from his 2023 Rose Bowl Injury. Rising has battled injuries again in 2024 and has not looked like himself before his season-ending injury. True freshman quarterback Isaac Wilson has had to step in when Rising is out and the results have been mixed. Utah’s passing game has been lackluster and redzone issues have plagued the team. The defense has also underperformed while dealing with a few injuries of their own. Utah is 4-2 but was excited to at most have one loss through their first six games.
Frogs O’ War: What’s to make of the Cam Rising injury? Should the 7th-year senior come back for an 8th season or is the program in need of a different signal-caller?
Locked on Utes: Cam Rising got rolled up on the third play of the game against Arizona State. He tried to play through his injuries and proceeded to play his worst game ever as a Utah starting quarterback tossing three picks in the road loss. Cam was just ruled out for the season bringing his 7th year to a disappointing close. I do not believe Cam should want to come back nor do I believe Utah wants him back. The Utah Football program can not afford to bank their season on an injury-prone quarterback for a third straight year. Cam is one of the best players to ever step on the field for Utah but his struggles to stay healthy have hindered Utah’s ceiling. It’s time to go in a new direction or move forward with Wilson in 2025.
Frogs O’ War: How competitive does Isaac Wilson make the Utes? Is he the answer at quarterback moving forward, this season and beyond?
Locked on Utes: Utah can still contend in the Big 12 with Wilson at quarterback. The key for Utah is having a balanced offense and not becoming one-dimensional. If the game falls on Wilson’s shoulders he will more than likely struggle like he did versus Arizona. But if Utah can establish the run game, and ask Wilson to make a few big throws to their talented pass catchers Dorian Singer and Brant Kuithe, then the offense should have success. Wilson has improved each game he’s started and the offensive play calling should also improve as both coach and QB learn one another. Wilson was a 4-star and has shown enough in these first few games to be Utah’s starting quarterback in 2025 and 2026.
Frogs O’ War: How can the Utes get back on track this season? What positional grouping must improve the most over the second half of the season?
Locked on Utes: The biggest thing holding Utah back is the passing game as we’ve covered. Wilson must improve and so must the play calling to maximize Utah’s weapons in the passing game. But another group that needs to be better is the front seven. In 2023 Utah had a top 5 run defense and right now ranks 42nd. Utah is down a few starters from last year’s unit due to injury but they have given up too many big runs and need to do a better job of getting home when rushing the quarterback.
Frogs O’ War: The Horned Frogs’ offense ranks second in the conference in scoring, while the defense ranks second-to-last. Is Utah capable of slowing down a high-octane offense and exposing a lackluster defense?
Locked on Utes: Yes. While TCU’s offense has been impressive they are coming off a 19-point performance against one of the league’s worst teams in Houston. While Utah’s defense has not lived up to last year’s lofty standard they still have the second-best total defense in the conference and the 17th in the country. Arizona was Utah’s first loss to an unranked team at home since 2017 and just Utah’s second home loss since 2021. While TCU has made plays through the air they have struggled to run the ball and one dimensional offense do not fare well in one of college football’s toughest home atmospheres. Utah’s pass defense is also ranked 22nd and coming off a strong outing versus Arizona State. On the other side of the ball, TCU’s run defense is also a concern for the Horned Frogs with Utah running back Micah Bernard averaging over six yards per carry and ranking 12th in rushing yards nationally. TCU’s secondary has done a good job this year but I do expect Dorian Singer, Utah’s top receiver, to still make a few plays downfield. Utah has the advantage in the trenches, and that should be the biggest difference in this game.
Frogs O’ War: What’s your prediction for Utah vs. TCU? Who wins? What’s the final score?
Locked on Utes: My prediction is that Utah will get back on track. With the Cam Rising injury distraction behind them, the team can now fully support Isaac Wilson. Utah had a players-only meeting this week and the belief that this team can win the Big 12 is still alive in their locker room. Kyle Whittingham has been very good at home during his tenure with Utah and I expect his team to respond after back-to-back losses. I’ll take Utah 31-17 over TCU.
Special thanks to JT for some fantastic insight before the Horned Frogs’ contest against the Utes. Please be sure to check out Locked on Utes, a daily podcast that covers everything the University of Utah athletics has to offer.