Week 4 drops a ranked Big 12 opener into one of the sport’s toughest venues. No. 16 Utah welcomes No. 17 Texas Tech to Rice-Eccles Stadium, where altitude, crowd noise, and the league spotlight meet in a true measuring-stick game. FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff is on site, underscoring how much this result could shape both teams’ trajectories.
On Thursday’s Always College Football, analyst Greg McElroy leaned toward the home edge and line-of-scrimmage reliability for the Utes. “I think it’s going to be a close game. I’ll take Utah at home. I think Dampier and that running game will be just enough. But man, Texas Tech is dangerous. This is one of the best games of the weekend.”
His breakdown framed a clash of strengths with little early-season clarity from either team’s schedule.
Why McElroy Is Backing Utah At Home
McElroy set the terms simply, noting both teams look excellent but remain lightly tested. He identified Utah’s defensive front as the cleanest, most bankable trait on the field, a group that “has been outstanding at getting after the quarterback” with edge anchor John Henry Daly steering a deep rush unit. That pressure lets Utah stay versatile in coverage and squeeze explosive concepts…