Utah Utes surge to No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings, earning long-awaited national respect and igniting debate—could Utah claim the top spot with a win over BYU and key losses elsewhere? The conversation focused on Utah’s dominant offense led by Devon Dampier and running back Wayshawn Parker, the offensive line’s late-season improvements, and the depth at wide receiver with Braden Pegan and Creed Whittemore. A key theme that emerged was the unpredictable nature of CFP rankings and the influence of perceived SEC bias, with Alabama and Texas placements drawing scrutiny. The discussion explored the high stakes of the Holy War as both Utah and BYU chase Big 12 championship and playoff dreams. Several points were raised, including trench matchups, Utah’s red zone defense, and how BYU’s offense, led by Bear Bachmeier, could challenge Morgan Scalley’s squad. Is this Utah’s year to break through on the national stage? Follow the show: @LockedOnUtes Follow: JT @Jtwistrcill PHOTO CREDIT: Albert Cesare- Imagn Images Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOUtes?sid=YouTube. Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege For your next listen, check out the Locked On College Football podcast! From NIL deals to never-ending conference realignment rumors, Spencer McLaughlin gets you ready for an exciting season on the gridiron! Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day. Listener Survey: We've put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go to https://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! KALSHI For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. Ultimate GM Locked On listeners: use promo code CFB26, all caps, in the game store to get a free boost for your program. To download, visit https://ultimate-cfb.com or simply search for Ultimate College Football HC in your app store. Ultimate College Football HC. Your program — your legacy! Butcher Box If you're looking for an easier way to get great meals on the table, give ButcherBox a try. Go to https://ButcherBox.com/LOCKEDONCOLLEGE to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ribeye, new york strip, or filet mignon in every box for a year — with free shipping always. 5-Hour ENERGY Treat yourself to a crisp apple bite and smooth caramel delight with a Caramel Apple 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot, only available online for a limited time at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon. Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.