Utah opened the 2024 season with a 49-0 win over Southern Utah on Thursday. However, the good start came with bad news this week. Utes cornerback Kenan Johnson suffered a season-ending lower leg injury during the first half of the game.

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham confirmed the severity of Johnson’s injury on Monday, noting that while Johnson’s season is over, there is a possibility for him to return next year if he chooses. Before his injury, the Georgia Tech transfer had recorded three tackles and was expected to be a key part of the defense.

In Johnson’s absence, Utah will rely on Smith Snowden, Cam Calhoun, and Scooby Davis to fill the void at cornerback. Snowden, who had been playing the nickel position, showed versatility and performed well on the inside. Davis, who grabbed an interception against Southern Utah, provided solid contributions, while Calhoun, a transfer from Michigan, is expected to be back in action this week. Whittingham mentioned that the coaching staff would evaluate different configurations in practice to determine the best setup moving forward.

Three takeaways from No. 12 Utah’s win over Southern Utah

On the offensive side, the return of quarterback Cam Rising and tight end Brant Kuithe was a highlight. The duo showcased their chemistry by connecting on three touchdown passes in the first half, underscoring their importance to the team’s success. Rising’s ability to find Kuithe in key moments was crucial and reaffirmed the dynamic nature of their partnership.

Additionally, freshman wide receiver Dijon Stanley emerged as a new offensive threat, recording three catches for 150 yards, including two long touchdown receptions. His performance added another dimension to Utah’s potent offense.

Looking ahead, Utah faces a tougher challenge as they prepare to host Baylor, a rematch of last season’s closely contested 20-13 victory in Waco. Whittingham acknowledged the need to elevate their play, as Baylor is a formidable opponent eager to avenge last year’s loss.

The Sept. 1 deadline for the Mountain West and Washington State and Oregon State to renew their football scheduling arrangement passed without an agreement, and the conference said Monday it is anticipating making schedules for next season without the Pac-12 schools.

The announcement does not necessarily close the door on the two sides agreeing to another arrangement as the 12-team Mountain West typically does not release its conference football schedule until December at the earliest.

“For the 2025 season, the Mountain West and its member institutions are moving forward with their conference and nonconference schedules,” the league said in a statement.

Oregon State and Washington State are operating as a two-team league this season and intend to do so in 2025 as well after 10 Pac-12 schools scattered to other power conferences this year.

To fill out football schedules, Washington State and Oregon State agreed to a deal with the Mountain West to play six games against those schools that do not count toward the conference standings. The deal paid the Mountain West about $14 million for this year.

The Mountain West and the Pac-12 schools said at the time they would look to possibly extend the agreement another year by Sept. 1, but the sides could not come to terms.

Oregon State currently has seven football games booked for next season, including against Washington State.

Washington State has six games booked, including its conference game against the Beavers. Major college football teams typically play 12-game regular seasons.

Mountain West schools could also arrange games separately with Oregon State and Washington State.

Oregon State and Washington State struck a separate scheduling agreement with the West Coast Conference for basketball and other Olympic sports. That does not include Oregon State’s traditionally strong baseball program, which is operating as as an independent this school year.

Oregon State and Washington State are taking advantage of an NCAA rule that allows them to operate as a two-team conference for two years. Schools leaders have said their first priority is the rebuild the Pac-12 and they have accumulated tens of millions of dollars in conference related funds they hope can aid those efforts.

Their agreement with the Mountain West included millions of dollars in extra fees over the next two years if Oregon State and Washington State tries to add MW schools to the Pac-12.

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Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

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* University of Wyoming press release

LARAMIE — University of Wyoming swimmer Jack O’Neil is set to kick off his 2024 Paralympic Games campaign with Team USA. The Games run from Aug. 28-Sept. 8, with the swimming portion of the games spanning Aug. 29-Sept. 7 at Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre.

Jack O’Neil was featured on the One Wyoming Podcast with Ryan Thorburn and said, “It was so surreal. This is a goal I have been working at since I knew what the Paralympics were. One of the driving purposes of having my leg amputated was seeing the Paralympics for the first time in 2012 and seeing what those people were capable of. So, knowing that I’m going in the same spot as some of the people who inspired me to amputate my leg and lead a better life, it’s just incredible.”

All of Wyoming is with you, Jack 🤠🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/OyknHXz7L1

— Wyoming Athletics (@wyoathletics) August 28, 2024

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O’Neil will be competing in the preliminaries of the 100-meter backstroke Saturday at 2:30 a.m. It can be streamed on Peacock or digitally.

Should O’Neil qualify for finals in the 100-meter backstroke, he will swim again at 10 a.m. That race will be for a spot on the podium.

O’Neil could also compete as a member of the 34-point mixed medley relay team for Team USA on Monday at 2:30 a.m. If O’Neil is selected to compete on the relay and advance to finals, they would swim again at 12:10 p.m.

The One Wyoming Podcast A-listers: @wyo_football QB @EvanSvobodaQB17 & TE @jmikegyllenborg + @wyo_swimdive captain Jack O'Neil who will swim for @USParalympics in Paris.

🎙️ listen via @ApplePodcasts, @spotifypodcasts or here: https://t.co/OXwl1hjcBZ#OneWyoming 🏈 🏊‍♂️ #GoWyo pic.twitter.com/4O9cfHjMqW

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— Ryan Thorburn (@By_RyanThorburn) August 16, 2024

“All the people that have helped me along the way, my University of Wyoming teammates and coaches, the entire university, I’m so proud to represent them and everything that they’ve put into me,” O’Neil said. “I’m really just a product of the amazing community behind me.”

– How Many Medals Have Wyoming-Born Athletes Won at the Olympics?