Host Josh Furlong breaks down everything Utes fans need to know heading into Saturday’s road tilt against Colorado — from Isaac Wilson leading the Buffaloes' offense to the defensive keys in the trenches.

Plus, a dive into the growing buzz around a 24-team College Football Playoff, Morgan Scalley’s mission to lock down in-state recruiting, and a visit from Jon Wilner to unpack how big the weekend's games are for the Big 12's postseason fate.

In this episode:

• Houston kickoff window: Why the network broadcast schedules put Utah-Houston on a six-day hold and what time slots are on the table.

• The 24-team playoff scenario: What a potential bracket expansion means for college football, conference championship games, and why historical metrics suggest Utah would be among the biggest winners.

• In-state recruiting priority: Morgan Scalley's vision for keeping top local talent home and building a pipeline in Utah.

• Colorado preview: Dissecting the Buffaloes' struggles, former Ute Isaac Wilson under center, and the defensive keys to securing bowl eligibility in Boulder.

• Hotline Update with John Wilner: Breaking down the College Football Playoff at-large implications of BYU vs. Notre Dame, CFP selection committee dynamics, and the current state of Deion Sanders' program.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.

Football is back at Rice-Eccles Stadium after a two-week break, and the Utes are preparing for a "whiteout" matchup against the Kansas Jayhawks.

Host Josh Furlong breaks down whether Kansas’ top-10 offensive and defensive metrics are legitimate threats or just paper stats padded by weak nonconference opponents.

From bottling up dual-threat quarterback Isaiah Marshall to Utah’s defensive dominance in the red zone, get the complete breakdown of what Morgan Scalley’s squad must do to avoid an upset.

Plus, John Wilner of the Wilner Hotline joins the show for an inside look at the biggest headlines across college football:

• The AP poll factory: How voters evaluate wildly unbalanced early-season schedules.

• Playoff expansion fallout: The looming expiration of ESPN’s exclusive CFP negotiating window and what a potential jump to 24 teams means for the Big 12’s access and revenue.

• Week 6 Big 12 matchups: Why Texas Tech might be vulnerable, the fallout of ASU’s London trip, and a hypothetical "midpoint" showdown between Utah and BYU.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.

Ever wondered how the AP Top 25 college football poll actually comes together — and just how stressful it is to submit a weekly ballot? On this edition of The Utah Checkdown podcast, host and AP voter Josh Furlong pulls back the curtain to give listeners (and viewers) a fully transparent look at the voting process.

Here is what is in store for this episode:

• Big 12 headlines: Rapid reactions to Baylor’s blowout over Arizona State, BYU's gritty road win against TCU, and an impressive showing by Iowa State.

• The AP Top 25 & ballot breakdown: Why Josh has BYU and Utah ranked inside his top 10, the tough calls surrounding teams like Alabama, Oregon, and Florida, and how his personal ballot stacks up against the national consensus.

• Behind the AP ballot: Josh takes you directly inside his tracking system, breaking down official AP voting guidelines, regional representation rules, game analytics, margin-of-victory scoring, and what it’s really like finalizing rankings at 4 a.m.

Follow Josh Furlong on social media platform X @Josh_Furlong or on Instagram @jfurksl.