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This week’s episode of The Matt Cave Podcast opens with a deep dive into the University of Utah’s oddly worded announcement that Kyle Whittingham is “stepping down” — not retiring — and why the timing of that decision raises real questions. With a $500 million private equity partnership suddenly entering the picture, Matt breaks down why the language matters, why the silence around it is strange, and why the story may not be as simple as it seems.

From there, the show turns to bowl season — and whether it has meant anything for years now. Utah, BYU, and Utah State all earn postseason games, but opt-outs, transfers, and shifting incentives continue to erode what bowl games used to represent. Matt still walks through the matchups, expectations, and transfer portal implications, even while questioning why fans should care at all.

The episode wraps with a full reaction to The Game Awards, which finally felt like an actual awards show again. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominates the night for good reason, while the absence of Call of Duty, Destiny 2, and World of Warcraft sends a clear message about the current state of AAA and live-service gaming.

Utah sports, college football, gaming culture, and context — all in one Sunday episode.

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This week on The Matt Cave, Matt's doing a full post-mortem on Championship Weekend…and folks, woof barely covers it. BYU walked into a Texas Tech buzzsaw with a one-legged freshman quarterback and left with a reminder of what a real championship roster looks like. Kalani isn’t going anywhere (and never was), and the Cougars now have their blueprint for the future, whether they like it or not.

Then we move into college basketball, where the Utes are confusing, Utah State is quietly becoming a wagon, and BYU Hoops looks like the most legitimate program in the state. AJ Dybantsa is the real deal, Robert Wright is settling in, and this team could realistically hit the Elite Eight if depth doesn’t betray them.

The Jazz? Yeah…they stink. That’s the segment. (Fine, Matt talks more — but that’s the headline.)

We also dig into the Utah Mammoth, who somehow look like world-beaters one night and a rec-league drop-in squad the next. The power play is statistically the worst in hockey, and nothing seems close to changing. Vanecek even played a great game and still got hung out to dry. This team is testing the limits of Matt's sanity.

And finally — a long-awaited return of Matt’s Game Review Corner, featuring Dispatch. Think Telltale Games meets superhero management meets dating sim meets “hey this is actually really good.” It’s mature, it’s well-acted, it’s choice-driven, and it’s absolutely worth your time (if you’re an adult, or a parent willing to check the content first before handing it to your kid).

It’s a loaded week. Thanks for the best engagement week we’ve ever had! Let’s keep the momentum going!

See you next time when we spelunk back into The Matt Cave.

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In this week’s post-Thanksgiving episode of The Matt Cave, Matt delivers a full therapy session for Utah sports fans. He breaks down Utah State’s collapse in peak Bronco Mendenhall fashion, Utah’s narrow escape against Kansas, and BYU’s early-morning sleepwalk that turned into a dominant win to reach 11–1 heading into Championship Week.

Matt then unloads on the College Football Playoff Committee — calling out the contradictions, the SEC favoritism, and the outright nonsense surrounding strength of record, game control, and why certain teams (looking at you, Notre Dame) stay ranked without earning it.

BYU men’s basketball also gets the spotlight as Matt recaps their tournament win in Orlando — affectionately renamed by him as the Mickey Mouse Chocolate Adventure Invitational. He breaks down why the trio of AJ DeBansa, Richie Saunders, and Rob Wright might be the most dangerous three-man unit in college basketball this year.

To close the show, Matt turns his attention to Utah Mammoth fans. With Logan Cooley injured, Clayton Keller playing through unimaginable personal tragedy, and the team grinding through a brutal schedule, Matt explains why this isn’t the time for panic — it’s the time for perspective.

Utah football, BYU football, Utah State heartbreak, CFP frustration, BYU basketball hype, and a Mammoth reality check all packed into one episode.

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Happy Thanksgiving, Spelunkers! 🦃 This week on The Matt Cave, Utah sports actually had a rare, beautiful moment — everybody won. BYU basketball handled Wisconsin in a revenge spot, Utah State became bowl eligible with a wild second-half turnaround, Utah pulled off a chaotic thriller against Kansas State, and BYU football got carried to victory by an absolutely monstrous performance from LJ Martin.

I break down:

• BYU men’s basketball locking down Wisconsin with shockingly elite defense
• Utah State shocking Fresno and keeping Mountain West title hopes alive
• Utah surviving a back-and-forth Big 12 shootout with a pick-two heard ‘round Rice-Eccles
• BYU football’s run-heavy win behind LJ Martin’s beast-mode stat line
• Why national pundits never give BYU or Utah respect (and why it’s lazy)

It’s a fun one. It’s a nerdy one. And it’s a thankful one.
Wherever you’re celebrating this week, I hope it’s a good one. 🦃❤️

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This week on The Matt Cave, Matt breaks down another eventful weekend in Utah sports, featuring decisive wins, late-season drama, and some much-needed perspective for Mammoth fans.

The episode opens with Utah State’s double-overtime loss to UNLV, a game that perfectly showcased the traditional Bronco Mendenhall script: competitive, gritty, and frustratingly close. With Fresno State and Boise State left, the Aggies still have a narrow path to bowl eligibility, but the margin for error is gone.

From there, Matt dives into Utah’s dominant rushing performance at Baylor, where the Utes powered their way to 380 yards on the ground. Despite offensive limitations, Utah continues to control games physically and remains in the Big 12 title conversation — though their postseason fate now hinges heavily on BYU vs. Cincinnati.

Next up is BYU’s blowout win over TCU, where the Cougars responded to last week’s embarrassment with urgency and emotion. Bear Bachmeier impressed, the defense overwhelmed TCU, and BYU now controls its path to the Big 12 Championship Game. The season comes down to the matchup with Cincinnati.

Matt then shifts to BYU Men’s Basketball and their near-upset of UConn in Boston — a performance that showed this young roster’s resilience and potential. Despite early injuries and cold shooting, the Cougars nearly stunned the defending champions.

The episode closes with the Utah Mammoth, who have hit their first real slump of the season. Matt breaks down why the panic from parts of the fanbase is unwarranted, how schedule imbalance has contributed to recent struggles, and why patience is essential in an 82-game NHL season.

Finally, he gives a quick review of Mega Bonk, a $10 Steam title that earns a full recommendation for its simplicity, humor, and replayability.

Another packed week, another deep spelunk into the world of Utah sports.

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This weekend was one of those weekends in Utah sports.
BYU got humiliated on a national stage — again — and I’ve got some words for the coaches, the offensive line, and a fanbase that needs to calm down. Utah’s Big 12 hopes? Barely alive, but technically still breathing. Utah State? Quietly rolling and one win from bowl season.

Then we shift to hoops: BYU men’s basketball is fun again… but Rob Wright might be a black hole for the ball. I break down Kevin Young’s rotations and what needs to change before they meet real competition.

And finally, the Utah Mammoth are just trying to survive the most unfair schedule in hockey. Eight of nine games on the road? That’s absurd. I’m not panicking yet — but I’m definitely side-eyeing Ryan Smith’s “concert venue” priorities.

So grab your caffeine, because it’s a full spelunk through a messy weekend in the 801.

🎧 Available wherever you spelunk for podcasts.

#TheMattCave #UtahSports #BYUFootball #UtahUtes #UtahState #UtahMammoth #NHL #CollegeFootball #CollegeBasketball #UtahJazz #SportsPodcast #TusksUp

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Rice-Eccles at night once again reminded everyone why there’s nothing like Utah Football under the lights. Devon Dampier proved the doubters wrong, Utah rolled a supposedly “ranked” Cincinnati squad, and I break down why the national media’s obsession with the Kelce's is the only reason the Bearcats were even in the conversation.

Then we pivot south to Provo, where BYU’s entire Big 12 season hangs on an early-morning slugfest with Texas Tech. I’ll explain why it’s the defining game for both BYU and Utah’s playoff paths, and why Cougar fans should be proud no matter what happens next.

We wrap with chaos in the AP Top 25 (Virginia? Louisville? Duke??) and some early men’s basketball previews:

• Utah: rebuilding under Coach Jensen but trending the right way
• Utah State: poised for another Mountain West title run
• BYU: AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders, Rob Wright, Keba Keita… this might be the deepest roster in program history — and yes, I said Elite Eight potential

And just when you thought I was done — Logan Cooley gets paid. I’ll touch on why his new deal with the Utah Mammoth is a huge win for the franchise and the fan base.

Hit play, spelunkers. It’s another loaded week inside The Matt Cave.

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In this week’s episode of The Matt Cave Podcast, Matt breaks down a most chaotic weekend in Utah sports.

• BYU Football stuns Iowa State on national TV, led by true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier and a pair of elite game plans from coordinators Jay Hill and Aaron Roderick. Matt dives into how BYU’s defense adapted, why the offensive simplifications worked, and what this means for a possible Big 12 title run.
• Utah Football annihilates Colorado in Salt Lake City, handing Deion Sanders the worst loss of his Colorado tenure. Matt analyzes Kyle Whittingham’s defensive masterpiece, Morgan Scalley’s adjustments, and why Rice-Eccles Stadium at night remains one of college football’s toughest environments.
• Utah State falls flat against New Mexico as the Aggies’ bowl hopes evaporate, with Matt explaining how Bronco Mendenhall’s conservative play-calling has hurt their defense and offensive rhythm.
• On the ice, the Utah Mammoth continue their electric start to the NHL season. Logan Cooley’s natural hat trick, Nick Schmaltz’s heroics, and Clayton Keller’s leadership headline a 7-2 start that has the Mammoth looking like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Matt highlights the team’s blistering speed, defensive maturity, and why Veggie has earned the trust GM Bill Armstrong gave him with his contract extension late last season.
• And yes, there’s a quick look at the Utah Jazz — from their surprising start to better-than-expected jerseys — plus a few trademark Matt Cave rants along the way.

Tune in for deep analysis, local flavor, and passionate commentary from Utah’s most authentic voice in sports and gaming.

🎙️ The Matt Cave Podcast covers Utah sports, BYU football, Utah football, Utah State, Utah Jazz, Utah Mammoth hockey, and more — every Sunday, everywhere you spelunk for podcasts.

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