The Utah Checkdown

Host Josh Furlong breaks down everything Utes fans need to know heading into Saturday’s road tilt against Colorado — from Isaac Wilson leading the Buffaloes' offense to the defensive keys in the trenches.

Plus, a dive into the growing buzz around a 24-team College Football Playoff, Morgan Scalley’s mission to lock down in-state recruiting, and a visit from Jon Wilner to unpack how big the weekend's games are for the Big 12's postseason fate.

In this episode:

Houston kickoff window: Why the network broadcast schedules put Utah-Houston on a six-day hold and what time slots are on the table.

The 24-team playoff scenario: What a potential bracket expansion means for college football, conference championship games, and why historical metrics suggest Utah would be among the biggest winners.

In-state recruiting priority: Morgan Scalley's vision for keeping top local talent home and building a pipeline in Utah.

Colorado preview: Dissecting the Buffaloes' struggles, former Ute Isaac Wilson under center, and the defensive keys to securing bowl eligibility in Boulder.

Hotline Update with John Wilner: Breaking down the College Football Playoff at-large implications of BYU vs. Notre Dame, CFP selection committee dynamics, and the current state of Deion Sanders' program.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.

The Utes are 5-0, but are they getting will they get national respect they deserve, especially with the team's strength of schedule? In this episode, host Josh Furlong breaks down several points:

The Kansas recap: Dissecting the 41-24 victory, Wayshawn Parker’s dynamic night, Devon Dampier’s steady second-half recovery, and the defensive secondary’s response to big plays.

Morgan Scalley’s milestone start: How Scalley became the best first-year head coach in Utah history.

Moving week in the Big 12: Why top-tier separation is finally hitting the conference and where Utah stands in ESPN's efficiency and game control rankings.

The Holy War dilemma: BYU faces No. 2 Notre Dame this weekend, so should Utah fans ever root for their rivals to boost the conference resume? (Spoiler: Josh says absolutely not).

Beef of the Week: Big praise for the revamped Utah offensive line taking home Big 12 honors.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.

Football is back at Rice-Eccles Stadium after a two-week break, and the Utes are preparing for a "whiteout" matchup against the Kansas Jayhawks.

Host Josh Furlong breaks down whether Kansas’ top-10 offensive and defensive metrics are legitimate threats or just paper stats padded by weak nonconference opponents.

From bottling up dual-threat quarterback Isaiah Marshall to Utah’s defensive dominance in the red zone, get the complete breakdown of what Morgan Scalley’s squad must do to avoid an upset.

Plus, John Wilner of the Wilner Hotline joins the show for an inside look at the biggest headlines across college football:

The AP poll factory: How voters evaluate wildly unbalanced early-season schedules.

Playoff expansion fallout: The looming expiration of ESPN’s exclusive CFP negotiating window and what a potential jump to 24 teams means for the Big 12’s access and revenue.

Week 6 Big 12 matchups: Why Texas Tech might be vulnerable, the fallout of ASU’s London trip, and a hypothetical "midpoint" showdown between Utah and BYU.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.

Ever wondered how the AP Top 25 college football poll actually comes together — and just how stressful it is to submit a weekly ballot? On this edition of The Utah Checkdown podcast, host and AP voter Josh Furlong pulls back the curtain to give listeners (and viewers) a fully transparent look at the voting process.

Here is what is in store for this episode:

Big 12 headlines: Rapid reactions to Baylor’s blowout over Arizona State, BYU's gritty road win against TCU, and an impressive showing by Iowa State.

The AP Top 25 & ballot breakdown: Why Josh has BYU and Utah ranked inside his top 10, the tough calls surrounding teams like Alabama, Oregon, and Florida, and how his personal ballot stacks up against the national consensus.

Behind the AP ballot: Josh takes you directly inside his tracking system, breaking down official AP voting guidelines, regional representation rules, game analytics, margin-of-victory scoring, and what it’s really like finalizing rankings at 4 a.m.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.

The Utes went on the road into Jack Trice Stadium, weathered a third-quarter storm, and walked away with a 31-17 victory over Iowa State to start Big 12 play 1-0.

In this episode, host Josh Furlong breaks down Utah’s hard-fought road win, analyzes the national perception surrounding the program, and welcomes college football insider Jon Wilner for his weekly Big 12 Hotline update:

Devon Dampier’s evolution: Why Dampier’s passing — including a dime to Braden Pegan up the seam — shows the game is officially slowing down for Utah’s quarterback.

Wayshawn Parker’s complete game: Parker had 174 yards on the ground and hauled in a receiving touchdown to prove he’s much more than just a one-trick threat.

Weathering adversity in Ames: How the team responded to Iowa State's third-quarter surge and answered with physical, tone-setting football.

Big 12 Hotline with Jon Wilner: Wilner returns to discuss why Utah and BYU look like the two best-coached, most balanced teams in the conference and the monumental stakes brewing for the Nov. 7 game in Salt Lake City.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.

Big 12 play is officially here, and No. 15 Utah faces its first true road test of the season with a trip to Ames to take on Iowa State.

In this episode, host Josh Furlong breaks down everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s conference opener, examines key roster developments, and brings on a special guest to look at the national college football landscape:

The Big 12's initial availability report: Analyzing the conference’s first official injury and availability report of the season.

Trench matchup in Ames: Breaking down Iowa State’s front behind defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbitt, how their scheme compares to Utah defenses of the past, and why slowing down dynamic running back Aidan Flora on the edge is the defense’s top priority.

Cyclones Head Coach Jimmy Rogers’ game plan: Audio from Jimmy Rogers breaking down why Utah’s offense and how the multiple option looks and how the dual-QB attack forces opposing defenses into mental overload.

Big 12 Hotline Update with Jon Wilner: Renowned college sports insider Jon Wilner joins the show for his weekly segment to discuss why Utah and BYU could be on a collision course for a top-10, high-stakes November showdown in Salt Lake City that could decide the Big 12 title and playoff picture. And he gives his prediction on Saturday's game.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.

Nonconference play is officially in the books, and the Utah Utes are sitting at an unblemished 3-0. But as Big 12 play looms, one big question remains: Is Utah finally getting the national respect they deserve, or are critics still holding back?

In this episode, host Josh Furlong breaks down:

The AP Top 25 voting process: A transparent look inside Josh’s official AP ballot, how the consensus poll really works, the debate over who belongs, and addressing voter bias perceptions.

Big 12 action & playoff perception: Can the Big 12 realistically get two teams into the College Football Playoff? Plus, takeaways from West Virginia’s win, Texas Tech's performance against Houston, and why the November showdown with BYU is looking more and more like a high-stakes title eliminator.

Advanced analytics love the Utes: Why advanced metrics like Bill Connelly’s Resume SP+ and Brian Fremeau’s FEI game ratings have Utah ranked in the top two nationally.

Recapping the 33-0 shutout win over Utah State: Utah’s first FBS shutout in years, preserving the zero in the red zone, and holding the Aggies under 200 total yards.

Devon Dampier’s pocket poise: Why the box score doesn’t tell the whole story of Dampier’s continued maturation as a passer from the pocket.

Morgan Scalley’s aggressive identity: Scalley’s candid thoughts on going for two, testing unconventional looks, and playing to dictate the game.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.

The Battle of the Brothers is back! In this game-preview episode of The Utah Checkdown, host Josh Furlong dives deep into Utah’s final nonconference tune-up as the Utes host Utah State at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

In this episode:

The "friendly brotherhood" dynamic: Why the Utah-Utah State rivalry carries a completely different tone than the BYU rivalry, and how fans from both sides teamed up online this week.

History of the series: Looking back at the series' wild moments, from the bug-infested press box night when Chuckie Keeton stunned Utah in 2012 to the 2024 battle in Logan.

Utah State’s rocky start: Breaking down Bronco Mendenhall’s 0-2 Aggies after an FCS stumble against Idaho State and a missed fourth-quarter comeback bid in a 16-14 loss at Washington.

The Aggies' QB dilemma: Will Utah State stick with McCae Hillstead or Grady Brosterhaus? Josh analyzes Brosterhaus' tough showing in Seattle, his 10% turnover-worthy play rate, and what Mendenhall revealed about the battle under center.

Bronco Mendenhall on Utah’s offense: The Aggies' head coach praised Kevin McGiven’s "conflict play" designs, Devon Dampier’s playmaking engine, and why stopping Utah’s diverse backfield looks like defending option football.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.

Utah made a big statement in Week 2, and the fallout has completely broken Arkansas fans.

Host Josh Furlong breaks down a wild weekend across college football, recaps Utah’s dominant 43-10 win over Arkansas at Rice-Eccles Stadium, and analyzes what the result means for the Utes on the national stage:

Big 12 weekend fallout: Oklahoma State stuns No. 6 Oregon in Stillwater, Texas Tech survives a battle at Oregon State, and BYU outlasts Arizona in Provo.

AP Top 25 ballot breakdown: Josh defends his official AP ballot, explains the Texas vs. LSU No. 1 dilemma, and details why Utah’s rise to No. 17 is turning heads across the country.

The Arkansas disassembly: How Utah’s trench play overwhelmed an SEC front, why Razorbacks fans reached total meltdown mode on postgame call-in shows.

Jireh Moe & defensive success: Breaking down sophomore defensive tackle Jireh Moe’s game-wrecking performance, Johnathan Hall’s impact, and how the Utes held Arkansas to just 10 points.

Offensive chaos & Kevin McGiven’s playbook: A deeper look at Utah’s creative sets — including the viral four-across backfield with Devon Dampier, Byrd Ficklin, Wayshawn Parker, and Daniel Bray — and Morgan Scalley’s take on how tempo and personnel rotations create defensive booth headaches.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.

Real football is back — and there are plenty of stats to break down! In this week's episode of The Utah Checkdown, host Josh Furlong recaps the opening week of college football and sets the stage for a big nonconference showdown.

In this episode:

Week 1 look back & Kyle Whittingham’s Michigan chaos: A wild ending in Ann Arbor, the controversial Hail Mary finish, and what to make of Whittingham’s debut with the Wolverines.

Big 12 weekend shakeups: Oklahoma State's stumble against Tulsa, Dave Aranda’s hot seat after Baylor’s loss to Auburn, and what early results mean across the conference.

AP Top 25 ballot breakdown: Josh talks his top 25 ballot, breaks down LSU's big leap, and explains why Utah, BYU, and Texas Tech remain tightly grouped in the rankings.

Utah vs. Idaho postgame look: Breaking down the Utes’ 633-yard offensive explosion, Devon Dampier’s Big 12-leading average depth of target, and Byrd Ficklin’s viral sidearm dime. Plus, what Morgan Scalley had to say about the dual-QB packages and offensive line depth.

Arkansas game preview: What to expect Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium against the Razorbacks. Josh breaks down Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield’s comments on Utah’s run game, the late kickoff time, and the trench battles that will decide Week 2.

Tune in now on your favorite podcast platform and get set for kickoff at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.