Utah Football: 3 Reasons the Utes will beat Oregon State

2. Cam Rising may finally return

The quarterback situation in Salt Lake has been touch-and-go on a weekly basis this season. Ever since Cam Rising tore his ACL back at the Rose Bowl in January, his status for 2023 has been up in the air.

Last week, he dressed for pregame warmups before the UCLA game, but was in shorts and a t-shirt come game time. He’s been closer and closer to returning each week, and there’s a strong possibility that it finally happens Friday night.

If Rising does return, he’ll elevate this offense that has been just good enough to get the job done through four games.

If he doesn’t, well, at least OC Andy Ludwig has called some fitting games. With Nate Johnson under center, the Utes ran the ball 74 percent of the time against UCLA. The mentality for Ludwig has been to call plays in a way that benefits the defense and eliminates mistakes for the offense.

Johnson hasn’t been bad in 2023, even though he apologized for his performance last week. So far, he’s completed 63.3 percent of his throws for two touchdowns and no interceptions, and he’s added three scores on the ground.

If Rising does come back for this game, we could see Utah’s offense explode. If it’s Johnson again, the Utes will run the ball, lean on their defense, and end each drive with some sort of kick.

Either way, this offense will play a game that gives them a great chance to win.