The Utah Blockcast

Ben Portnoy of Sports Business Journal joins the show to break down the business side of college athletics’ new era, from Utah’s private capital partnership with Otro to the Big 12’s revenue race, House settlement fallout, and the Brendan Sorsby injunction. Plus, a look at what these changes mean for Utah’s future positioning in a rapidly changing college sports landscape.

Breaking down the latest on Noam Yaacov’s path to joining the Runnin’ Utes, what Utah’s potential apparel move could look like from timeline to design priorities, and how football recruiting momentum is building after the commitments of Aiden Martin and Dillon Sykes ahead of another big official visit weekend.

Utah football continues to build momentum through official visit season. This episode breaks down what that means and how Utah helped itself during its second OV weekend. Then, what Devon Dampier and the passing attack need to become from a numbers perspective, what might the receiver production look like this season. Lastly, a thought on Cody Campbell looking awfully hypocritical after the Brendan Sorsby injunction.

In this episode, Morgan Scalley reflects on when he first fell in love with the University of Utah, what he learned as a player and coach, how his approach has changed since becoming head coach, and what he wants Utah football to represent moving forward. The conversation also dives into culture, RSNB, recruiting, leadership, Devon Dampier, year-one expectations and the future of the program.

Timestamps:

0:00 — Welcome to the show

1:00 — Morgan Scalley joins the Utah Blockcast

2:00 — When Scalley first fell in love with the University of Utah

3:00 — When did coaching first became part of his future

5:00 — What his players have taught him over the years

7:00 — What has changed since becoming Utah’s head coach

8:30 — Year-one expectations and goals for the 2026 season

11:30 — Turning culture into more than just a slogan

13:30 — What recruits and families need to understand about Utah

15:00 — What Scalley wants opponents to feel when they play Utah

16:00 — How RSNB shows up in his coaching and game-day philosophy

18:00 — What made past Utah leaders like Devin Lloyd, Chase Hansen, Julian Blackmon and Hunter Dimick special

20:00 — Devon Dampier’s leadership and growth at quarterback

22:00 — What Scalley wants fans, recruits and former players to believe about Utah’s future

25:00 — Final message to Utah fans

Utah athletics is entering a new era, and this episode looks at both sides of that reality. Steve opens with the latest on Utah’s private equity deal and why financial pressure across college athletics makes the move feel less like a luxury and more like a necessity.

Then, the focus shifts to Utah football’s official visit weekend, the key recruits in town, and which prospects feel most realistic to commit as Morgan Scalley’s first full recruiting cycle begins to take shape.

ESPN’s latest quarterback tier rankings put Devon Dampier in an interesting spot entering 2026: respected, proven and clearly viewed as one of the better quarterbacks in the Big 12 — but still with another level to reach.

Then, Eric Lilly joins the show for a Cincinnati post-spring check-in. The conversation digs into the Bearcats’ offseason progress, the state of the quarterback room, offensive identity, defensive questions and where Cincinnati fits in a wide-open Big 12 race.

Iowa State is entering one of the more interesting post-spring periods in the Big 12. The Cyclones are moving into a new era under Jimmy Rogers after Matt Campbell’s departure. Joining the show on this one is Alec Busse, who covers Iowa State for Cyclone Alert and 247Sports. 

7:00 - What feels most different about the Cyclones now under Jimmy Rogers?
9:45 - What are the defining characteristics of Rogers program? 
13:00 - Jaylen Raynor feels like the presumed QB1, how does he compare to Rocco Becht?
16:00 - Does tight end remain a focal point? Who is standing out in the new receiver room? 
22:30 - Does the O-line provide indicators of a fast the rebuild?
27:30 - Defensively, what feels most settled, what are the strengths? 
31:00 - Utah travels to Ames, what should fans making the trip expect? 
35:30 - Assessing TJ Otzelberger's offseason and other basketball thoughts. 

It’s a Monday Mailbag edition of the Utah Blockcast, and we’re covering everything from $9 Taco Bell orders, Feldman’s slander, Crown Burger vs. In-N-Out, MJ vs. LeBron, Father’s Day meals, and the Drake/Kendrick debate.

Then we briefly touch on things like the PE deal, Huntsman Center renovation, Olympic facility questions, before diving into football & basketball questions like Devon Dampier’s Heisman case, fall camp position concerns, secondary depth, run defense, and how Kevin McGiven’s offense may compare to Jason Beck’s.

Plus, we close the show with an interview with Utah’s newest commit, Jonah Mailei.

This episode opens with a busy stretch of Utah news, starting with the Utes landing a commitment from 2027 Skyline running back Jonah Mailei, the first running back pledge in Utah’s 2027 class. We also talk through the latest with Noam Yaacov, whose strong showing at the NBA G League Combine has created a more complicated — but not unexpected — waiting game for Utah basketball as NBA interest grows.

Then, SunDevilSource.com publisher Chris Karpman joins the show for a Big 12 insider conversation. We get his view on Arizona State’s rise under Kenny Dillingham, how sustainable the Sun Devils’ momentum is, what the rest of the league should expect from ASU going forward, and where Utah fits in the Big 12 picture under Morgan Scalley. It’s a broader look at a league still trying to sort out its hierarchy — and what Utah has to prove as it enters a new era.

This episode heads to Morgantown for a closer look at one of the Big 12’s most interesting reset programs. Mike J. Asti joins the show to break down West Virginia football entering Year 2 of Rich Rodriguez’s return, including the quarterback picture, the identity of the offense, and what the Mountaineers need to prove in 2026.

Jason Scheer of Wildcat Authority joins the show to break down Arizona football’s 2026 outlook, including Noah Fifita, Brent Brennan, the Wildcats’ Big 12 ceiling and the November matchup with Utah. Then, 247Sports national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman joins for a deep dive into Utah football recruiting, regional battles, key targets and how the Utes are building under Morgan Scalley.

Post-spring Big 12 power rankings are here. We break down where Utah lands in the conference heading into the summer, why Texas Tech still sits at the top, and which teams could rise or fall by the time the season kicks off. Plus, thoughts on Houston, Oklahoma State, Arizona State and more in the league in 2026.

Utah football is entering a new era under Morgan Scalley, but the expectations remain familiar.

On this episode of the Utah Blockcast, we’re joined by Dalton Wasserman, co-host of the Preferred Walk-On Podcast, to take a national look at Utah’s 2026 outlook, the state of the Big 12, and the program’s growing NFL Draft profile.

The conversation starts with Utah’s place in the Big 12 under Scalley. Is this still a conference title contender, or does the transition make 2026 more of a prove-it year? We dive into Kevin McGiven’s offensive vision, what Devon Dampier needs to show to reach another level, why Wayshawn Parker could be one of the swing pieces of the season, and which defensive position group matters most for Utah maintaining its standard.

Then, we zoom out to the Big 12 as a whole. With multiple programs all capable of talking themselves into contention, Dalton helps separate real contenders from offseason optimism in one of college football’s most volatile leagues.

On this episode, I take a look at the top of Utah basketball's 2027 recruiting board with five names that fans should know this cycle. Also, recapping Utah baseball's series win over rival BYU and what it means for the Utes with two weeks to go before the Big 12 Tournament. 

In this episode, I break down five questions for Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball heading into the season: whether Noam Yaacov can truly run the show, where consistent shooting will come from, how this roster holds up defensively, what the frontcourt identity looks like, and how quickly the younger pieces can become reliable in a league that doesn’t wait for development. I also spend time on some of the ripple effects of Brendan Sorsby’s gambling situation. 

It was a historic weekend for Utah football, as the program saw two players selected in the first round for the first time in program history. Recapping that and the rest of draft weekend from a Utah football perspective. Then, turning the page. Who’s next? A way-too-early look at the 2027 NFL Draft class. 

Two first-round picks. One statement night. Utah made history at the 2026 NFL Draft as Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu both went in the first round — the first time the program has ever done it. In this episode, we celebrate the accomplishment for both. Then talk through what each landing spot means, why Fano is ready to contribute immediately, how Lomu fits as a high-upside investment, and what this moment says about Utah’s offensive line development model moving forward.

Breaking down Utah basketball’s 'essentially complete' 2026–27 roster from top to bottom — going position by position to define roles, and what this team is actually trying to become under Alex Jensen.

Plus, CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah joins the show to talk Utah football and the Big 12 outlook heading into 2026 — including national perception, conference hierarchy, and what it’ll take for Utah to stay in the title conversation under Morgan Scalley.

In this episode, I break down the addition of Noam Yaacov - a big time recruiting win for the Utes. Landing a true offensive engine in Yaacov this is a look into how the other pieces fit — and what Utah still needs with one or two roster spots left to fill.

On this episode of the Utah Blockcast... Talking some about the development of Devon Dampier — and why his continued growth is central to Utah’s ceiling after a 2025 season that saw him throw for nearly 2,500 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 800+ rushing yards. Plus, a one-on-one conversation with Utah offensive lineman Ike Garcia on the trenches, leadership, and the tone being set up front this spring, followed by an interview with 2027 defensive end commit Jack Henderson, breaking down his recruitment, his fit in Utah’s defensive identity, and why he chose the Utes.

Utah lands one of the most impactful players in the transfer portal — but what does Jackson Holcombe actually change? Breaking down why the Utah Valley standout is more than just a stat-sheet addition, diving into his all-around production and what those numbers say about winning at a high level. From roster fit to Big 12 translation, this is a deep dive into how Holcombe raises Utah’s floor, clarifies its identity, and signals a very intentional approach to building the 2026 roster.

Former Utah linebacker and NFL veteran Stevenson Sylvester joins the show to break down the current state of the program — from culture and identity to the growing importance of alumni involvement in today’s college football landscape. Sylvester offers perspective on what he's seen from the program this spring. Plus, five Utah players who need a strong summer to solidify both their roles and their position groups heading into the season, and what their development could mean for the Utes’ overall ceiling in 2026.

Utah football takes center stage in this episode as we break down an up-and-down practice viewing session that revealed where the offense is progressing — and where it’s still searching for consistency. From explosive flashes to frustrating stalls, what actually matters coming out of a day like that?

Plus, a one-on-one conversation with wide receiver Ricky Johnson, who’s quietly putting together a strong spring. He shares insight into his development, and the receiver room.

Using takeaways from practice viewing sessions, as well as insights from Morgan Scalley and others to assess every position group. Who’s trending up? Who’s holding steady? And where are the real concerns as the focus shifts from installation to execution? From the development in the receiver and cornerback rooms to the lack of separation along the offensive line, we take a measured look at what’s real — and what still needs to improve.