The Matt Cave

Matt Smith
  • 4.4 (19)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

The Voice for all things Utah sports, Matt gives you his unedited and unbridled opinion on the current events around the state. Sprinkled in are video game reviews and talk about important national sports stories. Listen now and become a spelunker today!

  1. 6d ago

    Utah, BYU & Utah State Week 3 Reactions + Keyonte George Extension

    Send us Fan Mail Matt is back in the Matt Cave to break down a busy week of Utah sports, starting with college football. He reacts to Utah's dominant 33-0 win over Utah State, including Devon Dampier's performance, Utah's suffocating defense, the Aggies' struggles running the football, and the frightening injury to Harrison Taggart. Matt also looks ahead at what's next for both Utah and Utah State and why he still believes the Aggies have a path to a bowl game. Then it's on to BYU's 38-7 win over Colorado State. Matt breaks down LJ Martin's ridiculous rushing performance, the strength of BYU's offensive line, Bear Bachmeier's performance, the BYU defense, and the biggest question marks facing the Cougars as they head into a bye week. The episode also includes a look at the latest AP Poll, where BYU sits at No. 9 and Utah at No. 15, before Matt turns his attention to the Utah Jazz and Keyonte George's five-year, $157.5 million extension. Matt explains why the George extension makes sense for the Jazz, how it fits alongside the team's young core, and why the pairing of George and Darryn Peterson could create a dynamic backcourt as Utah looks to become competitive again. Support the show

    Utah, BYU & Utah State Week 3 Reactions + Keyonte George Extension

  2. Sep 13

    Week 2 Reaction: Utah Dominates Arkansas, BYU Rises to No. 11, Utah State Almost Stuns Washington

    Send us Fan Mail Week 2 of the college football season is in the books, and Matt has plenty to talk about. Utah absolutely dismantled Arkansas 43-10, with the defense shutting down the Razorbacks and the offense continuing to show just how dynamic this Utes team can be. Matt breaks down the running game, Devon Dampier, Wayshawn Parker, Byrd Ficklin and a Utah defense that has allowed just 24 points through two games. Utah State was the surprise of the week. Matt expected Washington to run away with this one, but the Aggies hung around until the very end and nearly pulled off the upset. Three turnovers ultimately doomed Utah State, but the performance gave Matt even more reason to believe in his bowl-eligibility prediction. BYU also impressed against Arizona. After a shaky first half defensively, the Cougars made major adjustments at halftime and completely shut down the Wildcats in the second half. Matt breaks down the changes from Kelley Poppinga, the pressure on Noah Fifita, Bear Bachmeier's performance and why this BYU team is starting to look like a legitimate College Football Playoff contender. Then Matt takes a look at the latest AP Poll, where BYU jumped to No. 11 and Utah climbed to No. 17. To wrap things up, Matt gives a quick update on the Utah Mammoth rookie showcase, including the team's 3-0 win over Vegas and the status of Tij Iginla and Caleb Desnoyers heading into main training camp. It's another week of Utah sports, college football reactions and a little bit of AP Poll skepticism from the man cave. Spelunkers, if you enjoyed the episode, leave a five-star review wherever you listen and share the show with one person who might enjoy it. Support the show

    Week 2 Reaction: Utah Dominates Arkansas, BYU Rises to No. 11, Utah State Almost Stuns Washington

  3. Sep 6

    Utah & BYU Impress, Utah State Struggles | RSL Still Winless

    Send us Fan Mail Matt breaks down a busy Week 1 for Utah college football, including impressive performances from Utah and BYU and a rough opening loss for Utah State against Idaho State. Utah looked dominant against Idaho, with Devon Dampier, the offense, and the defense providing plenty of reasons for optimism. Matt also looks at the areas the Utes still need to clean up before Big 12 play ramps up. BYU opened the season with a strong performance against Utah Tech, with Bear Bachmeier, Legend Glasker, and the Cougars' tight ends standing out. Matt also examines BYU's special teams and pass rush concerns ahead of the Arizona game. Utah State, meanwhile, suffered a disappointing 29-17 home loss to Idaho State. Matt explains why the Aggies' offense, turnovers, kicking game, and upcoming schedule should have fans concerned, while also arguing that it's still far too early to abandon his preseason prediction. The episode then shifts to Real Salt Lake, who remain winless since the end of May after a 2-2 draw with LAFC. Matt breaks down RSL's defensive problems, injuries, tactical issues, and the challenges facing the club as the MLS playoff race continues. It's Week 1, so there is still plenty of time for Utah, BYU, Utah State, and Real Salt Lake to figure things out. Support the show

    Utah & BYU Impress, Utah State Struggles | RSL Still Winless

  4. Aug 30

    Utah State Football 2026 Preview: Can the Aggies Go 6-6?

    Send us Fan Mail Matt wraps up his 2026 college football previews with a look at the Utah State Aggies. After a six-win season in 2025, Utah State enters a new-look Pac-12 with plenty of questions. The Aggies lost several key contributors, including their quarterback, offensive coordinator, Ike Taylor and John Miller, but Matt sees enough returning and incoming talent to believe Bronco Mendenhall can outperform expectations once again. Matt breaks down Utah State's schedule, the transition to the Pac-12, the importance of the Washington State game, and the Aggies' chances of reaching bowl eligibility — and potentially backing their way into the Pac-12 Championship Game. He also identifies the players who could determine Utah State's season, including quarterback McCae Hillstead, wide receiver Javon Robinson, running back Javen Jacobs, defensive back Brevin Hamblin, edge Adonis Jackson and linebacker Harrison Taggart. The final prediction? 6-6, another bowl game, and a legitimate chance to finish in the top four of the Pac-12. That might be considerably more optimistic than the preseason expectations, but Matt isn't exactly backing away from it. Support the show

    Utah State Football 2026 Preview: Can the Aggies Go 6-6?

  5. Aug 23

    Utah Football 2026 Preview: Why the Utes Could Go 11-1

    Send us Fan Mail Matt breaks down the University of Utah's 2026 football season, from the transition away from Kyle Whittingham to Morgan Scalley's first season as head coach. Coming off an 11-2 season that included a dominant 44-22 bowl victory over Nebraska, Utah returns plenty of talent, including quarterback Devin Dampier and running back Wayshawn Parker, while facing major questions along both the offensive and defensive lines. Matt breaks down the schedule, the biggest position-group concerns, the quarterback and running back rooms, the new-look offensive line, the defensive front, special teams and the players who could determine how far the Utes go. The schedule may be one of the biggest advantages Utah has in 2026. Matt sees Idaho, Arkansas, Utah State, Iowa State, Kansas, Colorado and Cincinnati as wins, with Houston and BYU representing the biggest tests of the regular season. And then there's the prediction. Matt believes Utah's floor is 10-2, sees an undefeated season as the ceiling and ultimately predicts an 11-1 record with a loss to BYU. Could the Utes make a run at the College Football Playoff? Could Utah and BYU meet again in the Big 12 Championship Game? Matt breaks it all down before looking ahead to the players and storylines that could define Utah's 2026 season. Support the show

    Utah Football 2026 Preview: Why the Utes Could Go 11-1

  6. Aug 16

    2026 BYU Football Preview: 11-1, Big 12 Title & College Football Playoff?

    Send us Fan Mail BYU football enters the 2026 season with expectations unlike anything the program has seen in years and Matt believes the Cougars have a legitimate path to an 11-1 record, another Big 12 Championship Game appearance and a spot in the College Football Playoff. In this 2026 BYU Football Preview, Matt breaks down what the Cougars lost from last season, why the roster has enough continuity to remain near the top of the Big 12, and which position groups could determine how far this team goes. The wide receiver room gets plenty of attention, including Jojo Phillips and Legend Glasker, while the completely rebuilt special teams unit emerges as one of the biggest concerns. Matt also looks at Bear Bachmeier's development, LJ Martin's importance to the offense, the talented tight end room featuring Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga, and the defensive players who could make a major impact. The 2026 schedule gets a full breakdown as well, including Arizona, TCU, Notre Dame, UCF, Arizona State and Utah. Matt explains why Notre Dame will be the defining game of the regular season and why BYU could realistically enter the Big 12 Championship Game at 11-1. The episode also includes a prediction that could be far more controversial than any win-loss projection: Matt believes the relationship between Brian Santiago and Kalani Sitake could lead to Sitake leaving BYU after the 2026 season. The final prediction? BYU goes 11-1, returns to the Big 12 Championship Game and reaches the College Football Playoff. The 2026 season is about to get very interesting. Follow The Matt Cave Podcast on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more Utah sports coverage, including BYU, Utah, Utah State, the Utah Mammoth, Real Salt Lake and the Utah Jazz. Support the show

    2026 BYU Football Preview: 11-1, Big 12 Title & College Football Playoff?

  7. Aug 9

    Real Salt Lake’s Zavier Gozo Transfer Changes Everything | Matt Cave Podcast

    Send us Fan Mail Matt returns to the Matt Cave Podcast with another collection of Utah sports thoughts, covering Real Salt Lake, Zavier Gozo’s move to Crystal Palace, Cosmo the Cougar’s induction into the Mascot Hall of Fame, and the upcoming college football season. Real Salt Lake responded to Zavier Gozo’s record-setting move to Crystal Palace with a dominant 4–0 victory over Atlante in the Leagues Cup. Matt breaks down what Gozo’s transfer means for RSL and why developing young players and selling them to bigger European clubs could be the path forward for a smaller MLS market. Matt also looks at why Real Salt Lake needs to treat player development and major transfers as victories of their own, particularly with young players such as Diego Luna, Sergi Solans and Morgan Guilavogui potentially following Gozo toward bigger opportunities. The episode also celebrates Cosmo the Cougar being inducted into the 2026 Mascot Hall of Fame alongside mascots including Mrs. Met and Goldie. Finally, Matt dives into ESPN’s choices for Utah and BYU college football archrivals, including the case for Max Hall, the old Bowl Alliance controversy involving BYU, and several freshmen who could make an immediate impact for Utah and BYU this season. Topics include: • Real Salt Lake 4–0 Atlante • Zavier Gozo’s move to Crystal Palace • Real Salt Lake’s youth development strategy • Diego Luna and the future of RSL • Cosmo the Cougar and the Mascot Hall of Fame • Utah Utes football • BYU football • Max Hall and the Holy War • The Bowl Alliance and the College Football Playoff • Utah and BYU freshmen to watch The Matt Cave Podcast covers Utah sports, including Real Salt Lake, Utah football, BYU football, the Utah Mammoth and the Utah Jazz, with Matt offering his perspective from inside the Utah sports landscape. Support the show

    Real Salt Lake’s Zavier Gozo Transfer Changes Everything | Matt Cave Podcast

  8. Aug 2

    MLB Lockout Is Coming After Dodgers' Tarik Skubal Trade | Utah Sports Weekly

    Send us Fan Mail This week, Matt takes a look around the Utah sports landscape before diving into what could become Major League Baseball's biggest problem in years. Real Salt Lake continues to slide down the Western Conference standings after another disappointing result, while the Utah Royals remain one of the surprise stories of the NWSL despite a recent dip in form. Matt also gives credit to the Utah Talons after winning another professional softball championship. The biggest discussion centers around Major League Baseball after the Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal. Matt explains why the trade isn't actually Los Angeles' fault, why MLB owners are creating an unsustainable competitive balance, and why another labor stoppage feels almost inevitable. The episode also wraps up with thoughts on EA Sports College Football and why modern sports games continue to frustrate players. If you enjoy thoughtful Utah sports coverage every week, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share the show. Support the show

    MLB Lockout Is Coming After Dodgers' Tarik Skubal Trade | Utah Sports Weekly
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4.4
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

The Voice for all things Utah sports, Matt gives you his unedited and unbridled opinion on the current events around the state. Sprinkled in are video game reviews and talk about important national sports stories. Listen now and become a spelunker today!

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Smith
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    331
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Matt Cave
  • Show Website
    The Matt Cave

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