Utah Valley’s historic run through the NCAA Baseball Tournament came to an end Sunday with a heartbreaking 11-inning 7-6 loss to Cal Poly. Zach Daudet hit a solo home run to lead off the 11th inning …
EUGENE, Ore. (ABC4 Sports) – Utah Valley’s historic run through the NCAA Baseball Tournament came to an end Sunday with a heartbreaking 11-inning 7-6 loss to Cal Poly.
Zach Daudet hit a solo home run to lead off the 11th inning to give the Mustangs the victory. Utah Valley went 1-2 in the NCAA Tournament, earning its first ever postseason win over #12 Oregon on Friday.
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“I feel like this game kind of summed up what our season is,” said UVU head coach Nate Rasmussen. “A bunch of guys getting punched in the mouth and having to come back in and just a lot of toughness. Really proud of the group.”
“I just feel like we were never out of it,” said UVU reliever Cooper Littledike. “That’s just kind of how I saw it. I honestly thought we were still in it. We were one swing away. We were one at bat away one. Just one moment away.”
The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, but the Wolverines responded by loading the bases following walks to Joseph Barnhardt and Luke Iverson, along with a single from Jayden Smith. Landon Frei launched a grand slam to left field to put UVU ahead 4-1.
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Cal Poly answered with five runs in the bottom of the fourth to reclaim a 6-4 lead. Cooper Littledike entered in the inning and ended the inning for Utah Valley.
Dominic Longo II trimmed the deficit to 6-5 in the sixth with a solo home run to right field on the first pitch from Chris Downs. In the seventh, Iverson worked his third walk of the game and later scored on Smith’s double down the left-field line, tying the game at 6-6.
In the bottom of the ninth, Cal Poly put runners on first and second with one out, but Alan Huerta got Nate Castellon to fly out. Carston Herman entered with three of the next four batters being left-handed hitters and recorded the final out to force extra innings.
UVU put the go-ahead run on first in the 10th when Longo II walked, but failed to execute a bunt before a pair of flyouts and a caught stealing ended the threat.
Herman struck out the final two batters of the 10th, and after UVU went down in order in the top of the 11th, Daudet homered to right-center to send Cal Poly to the regional final against Arizona.
“Just being a part of this group, the culture change was unbelievable this year,” said Smith. “Something super special, and this was by far the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball in my life.”
“It might feel really, really bad right now, but these guys have a ton to be proud of,” Rasmussen said.
This was Utah Valley’s second NCAA Tournament appearance, and first since 2016 when the Wolverines went 0-2.
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The Wolverines finish 33-29, winning their first WAC Tournament title since 2016.
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Orem native Paxton Schultz recalls his first MLB appearance, and the people in his life who made his baseball journey come true.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Paxton Schultz’s big-league debut on April 20, against Seattle was a bit unconventional as he was summoned from the minors with a simple mission — help preserve a depleted Toronto bullpen against the Mariners following a 12-inning loss the previous night.
Schultz, 27, an Orem, Utah, native who played collegiately at Utah Valley University, did exactly that, allowing just two hits over 4 1/3 innings and striking out eight, tying a major league record for most strikeouts in a debut by a reliever.
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“Everything happened pretty quick. It was 8 o’clock at night (the night before) with Syracuse, our Triple-A team and the manager called me and let me know I would be heading to Toronto,” Schultz said. “Drove to Buffalo, stayed at my apartment there. A car came at 7 o’clock in the morning and picked us up, drove us to Toronto.
“Those are some of the most influential people of my life. I owe so much to them, the sacrifices and all they’ve done for me to be able to be in this position today, I can’t thank them enough.”
Toronto pitcher Paxton Schultz on his family
“Once they told me I was activated, I had a pretty good idea that I was going to be in the game. Second inning rolled around and our starter was in trouble, when I heard that phone ring I just knew. I had all the confidence in the world, especially getting my debut, something you dream of forever. Everything was clicking for me that day, a lot of success.”
And as far as his tying a big-league record, he had no idea until after he’d thrown his final pitch of the day.
“I had no clue about that. I was out there trying to give the team length and help the bullpen for the next series,” Schultz said. “After the game they told me you’d tied a Major League record. That was pretty cool to realize and take it all in.”
From the Beehive State to the Bigs
A 14th-round pick by Milwaukee in 2019, he was traded by the Brewers to the Blue Jays in 2021 and after about six years in the minors, which included a brief stint in Australia, he realized his lifelong dream, the seeds of which were sown early in the Beehive State.
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“Yeah, born and raised in Orem. That’s where I started playing baseball from T-ball all the way through high school,” Schultz said. “Definitely fortunate enough to stay close to home and have that support system until I got drafted and into pro ball.”
Orem’s Paxton Schultz pitches against Olympus, Tuesday, April 7, 2015, in Orem. | Tom Smart, Deseret News
He does remember unique challenges accompanying baseball in a cold-weather state, differences he first noticed during travel ball.
“We would go out of state and play teams from Arizona and Nevada. You could tell they were more polished and could play year-round,” Schultz said. “But I feel like there were some benefits to being able to take a step back. Taking a break to go play football or basketball, that gives you a chance to refine your athleticism. I feel like it helps a lot.”
Taking pride in Utah strides
Schultz takes immense pride in representing Utah each time he takes the mound, but he’s also encouraged to see more players from his state getting drafted and entering pro ball.
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“When I first got into pro ball, there weren’t a lot of guys and looking at it now, it’s cool to see how many more guys (with Utah ties) have been drafted from bigger universities and are playing,” he said. “I feel like the game is growing there and it’s been awesome to be part of that and be one of the few that have made it. It’s something I’ll take great pride in always and be there to help whoever comes up next trying to do it.”
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Paxton Schultz throws a pitch during game against the Texas Rangers, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. | Ronaldo Bolaños, Associated Press
Thus far, Schultz has made five appearances with the Jays, including one start as Toronto’s opener for a May 28 win in Texas. That evening, he pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and striking out four as the Jays prevailed thanks to Bo Bichette’s first career pinch-hit homer in the eighth to take two of three from the Rangers.
Schultz’s manager, John Schneider, had a simple rationale for giving the Orem native the start.
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“He has that available length, has pitches that can combat righties and lefties. When you’re looking to navigate multiple innings with one guy, you’ve got to have multiple pitches and he has that,” Schneider said pregame.
And when asked what quality Schultz has brought most to his bullpen thus far, Schneider immediately cited length.
“Better stuff than what we thought. We got a quick look at him in spring training, he’s got a really good demeanor, knows where he needs to execute his pitches and he’s done a really good job since he’s been here,” Schneider said. “Him executing whether it’s a cutter at the top of the zone, changeup below, he’s got some pitches and when he’s executing, he’s pretty good.”
A whirlwind debut
Like many big-league debuts, his was a whirlwind, happening so quickly that friends and family couldn’t make it to Toronto in time to see him pitch in the big leagues for the first time in person. However, after he didn’t pitch in the ensuing series in Houston, his supporters made it to New York to see him make his second appearance on April 27.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Paxton Schultz pitches during the third inning against the New York Yankees, Sunday, April 27, 2025, in New York. Some 20 family members and friends made their way to the Big Apple that day to see Schultz make his second MLB appearance. | Pamela Smith, Associated Press
“They all met me in New York at Yankee Stadium and got to see me throw there, which was awesome. I had about 20 family and friends there,” Schultz said. “They all got to congratulate me in person, so that was special. That is what it’s all about (sharing the journey with the people who helped you along the way), especially having my wife and daughter there, it was huge and my dad and my mom were there.
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“Those are some of the most influential people of my life. I owe so much to them, the sacrifices and all they’ve done for me to be able to be in this position today, I can’t thank them enough.”
Schultz is a rookie and among his rookie duties are to lug a bag of snacks to and from the bullpen and ensure it’s well-stocked, a small price to pay for reaching The Show and realizing a lifelong dream.
“After being told that was going to be it for the day (in my debut), I was able to sit in the dugout for a couple of innings, just look around and take it all in,” Schultz said. “That’s when it really set in that, wow, this is something I’ve been chasing my whole life and to finally be here and perform pretty well was special for me.”
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Paxton Schultz warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. | Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press
Stephen Hunt is a freelance writer based in Frisco, Texas.
In the southeastern Utah desert famous for red rock arches and canyon labyrinths, the long-dormant uranium mining industry is looking to revive under President Donald Trump.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — In the southeastern Utah desert famous for red rock arches and canyon labyrinths, the long-dormant uranium mining industry is looking to revive under President Donald Trump.
Hundreds of abandoned uranium mines dot the West’s arid landscapes, hazardous reminders of the promise and peril of nuclear power during the Cold War. Now, one mine that the Trump administration fast-tracked for regulatory approval could reopen for the first time since the 1980s.
Normally it would have taken months, if not years, for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to review plans to reopen a project like Anfield Energy’s Velvet-Wood mine 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Moab. But the bureau’s regulators green-lit the project in just 11 days under a “national energy emergency” Trump has declared that allows expedited environmental reviews for energy projects.
More permits and approvals will be needed, plus site work to get the mine operating again. And the price of uranium would have to rise enough to make domestic production financially sustainable. If that happens, it would mean revival — and jobs — to an industry that locally has been moribund since the Ronald Reagan era.
“President Trump has made it clear that our energy security is national security,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in announcing the fast-tracking policy in April. “These emergency procedures reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting both.”
More fast approvals appear likely. Trump’s order also applies to oil, gas, coal, biofuel and hydropower projects — but not renewable energy — on federal lands.
Conditions are ripe for more U.S. uranium mining
Global uranium prices are double what they were at a low point seven years ago and, for the past year, the U.S. has banned uranium imports from Russia due to that country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
More domestic mining would address a major imbalance. The U.S. imports about 98% of the uranium it uses to generate 30% of the world’s nuclear energy. More than two-thirds of U.S. imports come from the world’s top three uranium-mining countries: Canada, Australia and Kazakhstan.
Less government regulation won’t spur more U.S. uranium mining by itself. The market matters. And while spot-market prices are up from several years ago, they’re down about a third from their recent high in early 2024.
While some new uranium mining and processing projects have been announced, their number falls far short of a surge. That suggests prices need to rise — and stay there — for a true industry revival, said John Uhrie, a former uranium executive who now works in the cement industry.
“Until the price goes up dramatically, you’re not going to be able to actually put these places into operation,” Uhrie said. “You need significant capital on the ground.”
Still, the industry is showing new life in the Southwest.
Anfield Energy, a Canadian company, also looks to reopen the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill in southern Utah near Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It closed in the early 1980s. A uranium mill turns raw ore into yellowcake, a powdery substance later processed elsewhere into nuclear fuel.
Anfield officials did not return messages seeking comment on plans to reopen the mill and the Velvet-Wood mine.
Energy Fuels, another Canadian company which ranks as the top U.S. uranium miner, opened the Pinyon Plain mine about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the Grand Canyon in late 2023.
And just off U.S. 191 in southeastern Utah is a hub of the industry, Uranium Fuels’ White Mesa mill, the country’s only uranium mill still in operation.
In Moab, uranium has a long — and mixed — legacy
These days, Moab is a desert tourism hot spot bustling with outdoor enthusiasts. But the town of 5,200 has a deeper history with uranium. Nods to Moab’s post-World War II mining heyday can been spotted around town — the Atomic Hair Salon isn’t just named for its blowout hairstyles.
The biggest reminder is the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action project, a 480-acre (194-hectare) site just outside town. The decades-long, $1 billion U.S. Department of Energy effort to haul off toxic tailings that were leaching into the Colorado River upstream from the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead should wrap up within five more years.
That mill’s polluting legacy makes some Moab residents wary of restarting uranium mining and processing, especially after the Trump administration cut short their ability to weigh in on the Velvet-Wood mine plans.
“This was a process I would have been involved in,” said Sarah Fields, director of the local group Uranium Watch. “They provided no opportunity for the public to say, ‘You need to look at this, you need to look at that.’”
Grand Canyon Trust, a group critical of the Pinyon Plain mine as a danger to groundwater, points out that the U.S. nuclear industry isn’t at risk of losing access to uranium.
“This is all being done under the assumption there is some energy emergency and that is just not true,” said Amber Reimondo, the group’s energy director.
Supply and demand will decide uranium mining’s future
Hundreds of miles to the north, other nuclear energy projects point to the U.S. industry’s future.
With Bill Gates’ support, TerraPower is building a 345-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor outside Kemmerer in western Wyoming that could, in theory, meet demand for carbon-free power at lower costs and with less construction time than conventional reactor units.
Meanwhile, about 40% of uranium mined in the U.S. in 2024 came from four Wyoming “in-situ” mines that use wells to dissolve uranium in underground deposits and pump it to the surface without having to dig big holes or send miners underground. Similar mines in Texas and Nebraska and stockpiled ore processed at White Mesa accounted for the rest.
None — as yet — came from mines in Utah.
Powering electric cars and computing technology will require more electricity in the years ahead. Nuclear power offers a zero-carbon, round-the-clock option.
Meeting the demand for nuclear fuel domestically is another matter. With prices higher, almost 700,000 pounds of yellowcake was produced in the U.S. in 2024 — up more than a dozen-fold from the year before but still far short of the 32 million pounds imported into the U.S.
Even if mining increases, it’s not clear that U.S. capacity to turn the ore into fuel would keep pace, said Uhrie, the former uranium mining executive.
“Re-establishing a viable uranium industry from soup to nuts — meaning from mining through processing to yellow cake production, to conversion, to enrichment to produce nuclear fuel — remains a huge lift,” Uhrie said.
Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming.
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We should treat our water reservoirs like a savings fund, not a checking account. Here are some simple steps every Utahn can take to ensure a sustainable water future …
Imagine this: after years of scraping by, you manage to build up a small cushion and get a little financial breathing room. Your job is steady, but not necessarily guaranteed. Would you spend that cushion now? Or protect it, knowing how hard it was to build?
Most of us would protect it. So why aren’t we doing the same with our water?
Less than three years ago, northern Utah was in the grips of one of the most severe droughts in living memory. Reservoirs dropped to alarming lows. Cities and utilities scrambled to prepare for possible restrictions. In response, Utahns stepped up. We cut back. We conserved. And it worked.
Today, thanks to those efforts, good management and a few solid snow years, our reservoirs look healthy again, hovering around 80 to 90% full. But that’s not a license to use water like it’s going out of style.
Think of our reservoirs as a savings account. When we withdraw more water than we deposit, our balance drops. Unlike money, water doesn’t come with overdraft protection. When supplies run low, the trade-offs are real: lawns or drinking water? Car washes or fire protection? Backyard pools or a healthy Great Salt Lake? We shouldn’t wait for those choices to be forced on us.
As the pressure has eased, our habits have slipped.
In 2022, Utahns rose to the challenge of historic drought conditions and achieved record-breaking conservation. Even with reservoirs dipping to critically low levels (42% statewide), our collective effort helped avoid serious service cuts or restrictions. Since then, water use has steadily climbed, not from growth, but from individual behavior. Early 2025 data show a 20% increase per person over last year, which was already up 12.5% from the year before.
To return to our savings analogy: our emergency fund is shrinking, our future income — snowpack — is uncertain, and our spending is accelerating. We don’t need Warren Buffett to tell us that’s a bad plan.
The good news? We’re not too late. There’s still time to change course, and the solutions are well within reach.
Before anyone points fingers at agriculture, let’s clarify: agricultural water is a different system than the one that serves our homes, schools and businesses. The water we use day to day is part of the municipal system — that’s the one we can directly protect.
How to save water in Utah
The biggest opportunity for savings? Our yards. Outdoor watering, especially turf grass, is far and away the largest driver of summertime water use. Replacing traditional lawns with waterwise landscaping can reduce water use by up to 60%, and rebate programs can help cover the cost. But if a full yard renovation isn’t practical, start small: update a park strip, convert a side yard or reduce lawn to the areas you actually use.
A garden is watered in Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 8, 2024. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Another option: install a smart irrigation controller, which adjusts watering based on weather and soil conditions. There are rebates for that, too.
The simplest step of all? Water efficiently. The average lawn watering session uses about 2,000 gallons, and the average Utah homeowner waters much more than necessary. Following the Utah Division of Water Resources weekly watering guide can help you determine just how much your lawn needs.
Slowtheflow.org provides even more water-saving tips. For example, raising your mower blades and leaving your grass at a longer length helps protect the root system from drying up, resulting in less water needs for your lawn.
It’s human nature to move on and forget hard times. But when it comes to water, we can’t afford complacency. The future of our families, communities and the Great Salt Lake depends on what we do today.
We’re asking every household to do just a little better than last year. Even small reductions add up. If we hit our conservation targets, we’ll be able to send an equivalent volume of water to the Great Salt Lake this fall, a direct investment in Utah’s environment, economy and health. At the very least, we’ll be shoring up our savings account for the next dry year.
Let’s not waste what we worked so hard to protect. Let’s show that conservation isn’t just a crisis response; it’s a shared commitment to a secure future.
Arizona has built its team to succeed in its own ballpark, the cavernous Hi Corbett Field. In exchange for not hitting many home runs—just 27 in 30 games this season—the Wildcats lead the nation in …
EUGENE, Ore.—Arizona has built its team to succeed in its own ballpark, the cavernous Hi Corbett Field. In exchange for not hitting many home runs—just 27 in 30 games this season—the Wildcats lead the nation in triples and get plenty of doubles.
But put this UA team in a smaller park, with the wind blowing out, and boy can it be fun to watch.
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Arizona hit a school-record eight home runs, three by Mason White, in a 14-4 win over Utah Valley in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night at PK Park. The win advances the Wildcats (41-18) into the Eugene Regional final on Sunday night.
“The bats came out today, a little more than yesterday,” UA coach Chip Hale said.
White homered on his first three at-bats, banging a 2-run shot off the right field foul pole in the top of the 1st inning, then going to right-center in the 3rd and dead center in the 4th for the 9th 3-homer game in school history and first in the postseason. He finished 4 for 5 with a double to give him 110 extra-base hits, tying Dave Stegman’s school mark from 1973-76.
“We saw the wind when we got here, saw it in BP, and then nothing changed,” said White, who is up to 18 homers this season with nine in May. “We just hit like how we hit. And you see in Hi Corbett, it really doesn’t help out the wind blowing in, but playing in a park like this it really shows.”
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Tommy Splaine, Brendan Summerhill, Aaron Walton, Adonys Guzman and Garen Caulfield also homered, with Caulfield’s opposite-field shot in the 8th breaking the previous school record set in 2001 against Washington State.
“They hit eight home runs, and they didn’t hit eight cheap home runs,” Utah Valley coach Nate Rasmussen said.
Arizona belted out 19 hits, including a school-record 14 for extra bases. The Wildcats had scored only five runs on eight hits in the previous two games, managing only two in Friday’s 3-2 win over Cal Poly.
“We actually talked about it before we left the hotel, just get our best swing off,” Hale said. “Get our best swing off, hit low, hard contact. Sometimes people think you’re trying to hit the ball in the air. They’re not, they’re trying to hit low line drives, and they end up going a long way.”
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White’s first homer spotted Raul Garayzar a 2-0 lead before he got on the mound but that edge was gone quickly. Utah Valley (33-28) got the first two on and scored twice, aided by a dropped relay by Caulfield on what would have been a double play.
Easton Breyfogle’s sacrifice fly gave Arizona the lead for good in the 2nd, and White’s second homer upped it to 4-2. Splaine, Summerhill and White hit solo shots in the 4th to make it 7-2.
Garayzar put the first three on in the bottom of the 4th on a single and two hit batters and was pulled, the shortest outing for a UA starter since May 10. Casey Hintz came on with the bases loaded and got a trio of ground balls, the first two bringing in runs.
“You look at the scoreboard, I think at the time it was 7-2,” said Hintz, who would throw three scoreless innings and record seven outs on grounders, the other two on strikeouts. “At the time, it’s just get outs, get ground balls, turn a double play, just minimize what’s going on. All you can do is minimize, go pitch by pitch, and just don’t let them get more damage.”
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Michael Hilker Jr. then finished it out with three shutout innings and seven strikeouts to get the save as the UA bullpen allowed one hit over six innings.
Arizona put the game away with a 6-run 8th that included 2-run homers by Walton and Guzman. For Walton, who was 3 for 6 after coming in 9 of 56, it was his first since homering twice on May 2, while Guzman’s deep oppo shot to right-center came after he was robbed of a homer to center by Utah Valley’s Nate Bach.
The UA now waits to see who it will face Sunday at 7 p.m. PT, getting the winner of a 3 p.m. PT elimination game between Utah Valley and Cal Poly (42-18). The Wildcats need to win once more to advance to their first Super Regional since 2021.
One day after the Wolverines beat No. 12 overall seed Oregon for the program’s first NCAA Tournament win, UVU gave up 19 hits, including eight home runs and 14 extra-base hits, to Arizona in a …
Utah Valley’s pitchers were no match for Arizona’s batters Saturday night, as the Wildcats handed the Wolverines a 14-4 loss in NCAA baseball regionals action at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon.
As a result, UVU finds itself in a must-win scenario to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament.
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One day after the Wolverines beat No. 12 overall seed Oregon for the program’s first NCAA Tournament win, UVU gave up 19 hits, including eight home runs and 14 extra-base hits, to Arizona in a winner’s bracket matchup.
The Wildcats chased UVU starter Colton Kennedy after 3 1/3 innings, as they hit three solo home runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-2 lead. Kennedy gave up six of those runs, all earned.
Arizona then slammed the door shut with a six-run seventh inning that pushed its advantage to 13-4. UVU relief pitcher Garrett Miller gave up four earned runs in the inning against just one out, as he faced only five batters.
Mason White hit three of Arizona’s single-game program-record eight home runs. White’s first homer came just three batters into the matchup, and it gave Arizona a quick 2-0 lead.
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White ended up going 4 of 5 with four RBI while adding home runs in the third and fourth innings.
UVU had three of its four hits in the first inning. The Wolverines turned that into two runs, thanks to RBI singles from Mason Strong and Dominic Longo II.
The Wolverines also scored a pair of runs in the fourth after loading the bases, briefly making the game interesting again after cutting Arizona’s lead to 7-4.
After going scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, the Wildcats then put the game on ice with their six-run seventh.
What’s next for Utah Valley?
The loss pushes Utah Valley into the one-loss bracket. The Wolverines will play Cal Poly on Sunday at 4 p.m. MDT, with the winner moving on to play Arizona Sunday night and the loser being eliminated.
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Cal Poly eliminated regional host Oregon Saturday in one-loss bracket play, beating the Ducks 10-8. Oregon was the first top 16 seed to be eliminated from the NCAA Tournament.
Utah Valley would need two wins Sunday — one against Cal Poly, then one against Arizona — to stay alive and force a winner-take-all matchup with Arizona Monday, with a spot in the Super Regionals on the line.
BYU is ranked No. 64 nationally in strength of schedule, with nonconference matchups against the ACC’s Stanford (No. 88), the American Athletic Conference’s East Carolina (No. 90) and FCS opponent …
There are widespread expectations for the three FBS programs in the state of Utah this fall.
For BYU, the Cougars are hoping to use an 11-2 season last year to springboard to further success in 2025 and are viewed as one of the favorites to win the Big 12.
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For Utah, the Utes are looking to overcome a rare losing campaign and regain their footing as one of college football’s top 25 programs — all with a new offensive identity.
For Utah State, the Aggies are trying to forge ahead and regain some stability under a familiar face — first-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who was the coach at BYU from 2005-2015.
There are three main factors that go into Connelly’s rankings — the returning production for a team, its recent recruiting efforts and the program’s recent history.
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Connelly explained that his SP+ rankings “aren’t intended to be a guess at what the AP Top 25 will look like at the end of the year. These are simply early offseason power rankings based on the information we have been able to gather to date.”
What do these post-spring rankings — with the transfer portal closed — say about the 2025 prospects for BYU, Utah and Utah State?
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake pauses on the sideline during game against Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. | Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press
Where does BYU football rank in ESPN’s post-spring SP+ rankings?
BYU is ranked No. 27 overall in the SP+ rankings with a 11.5 rating, including No. 29 on offense, No. 30 on defense and No. 10 on special teams.
The Cougars are ranked fourth among Big 12 teams, behind only Kansas State (No. 18), defending league champion Arizona State (No. 22) and Texas Tech (No. 26).
BYU is ranked No. 64 nationally in strength of schedule, with nonconference matchups against the ACC’s Stanford (No. 88), the American Athletic Conference’s East Carolina (No. 90) and FCS opponent Portland State (not ranked).
Connelly said the SP+ rating gives BYU a 7% chance of going 11-1 or better, tied for second in the Big 12 — Kansas State is at 17% and Texas Tech is tied with BYU at 7%, with Arizona State next at 5%.
The Cougars are 52nd in returning productionat 59%, including 38th on offense at 65% and 72nd on defense at 52%.
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, center, comes onto the field with his team before an NCAA college football game against Houston Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) | Michael Wyke, Associated Press
Where does Utah football rank in ESPN’s post-spring SP+ rankings?
Utah is ranked No. 31 overall in the SP+ rankings with an 11.0 rating, including No. 54 on offense, No. 16 on defense and No. 36 on special teams.
The Utes are ranked sixth among Big 12 teams, behind only Kansas State (No. 18), defending league champion Arizona State (No. 22), Texas Tech (No. 26), BYU (No. 27) and TCU (No. 29).
Utah is ranked No. 55 nationally in strength of schedule, with nonconference matchups against the Big Ten’s UCLA (No. 51), the Mountain West’s Wyoming (No. 105) and FCS opponent Cal Poly (not ranked).
The Utes are 17th in returning production at 65%, including 11th on offense at 75% and 60th on defense at 56%.
Big 12 teams in the ESPN post-spring SP+ rankings
No. 18: Kansas State
No. 22: Arizona State
No. 26: Texas Tech
No. 27: BYU
No. 29: TCU
No. 31: Utah
No. 32: Iowa State
No. 35: Baylor
No. 50: Kansas
No. 52: Colorado
No. 57: West Virginia
No. 58: Oklahoma State
No. 59: Houston
No. 60: Arizona
No. 61: UCF
No. 66: Cincinnati
Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) runs past Iowa State defenders during the second half of the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game, in Arlington, Texas, Saturday Dec. 7, 2024. | Josh McSwain
Big 12 observations from ESPN’s post-spring SP+ rankings
The Big 12’s highest-ranked team in the SP+ rankings — Kansas State at No. 18 — is lower than the highest-ranked program from each of the other power conferences, with the SEC having 10 teams ahead of the first Big 12 team, the Big Ten four and the ACC two.
Half of the the Big 12’s 16 teams are ranked in the top 35. That’s behind the SEC (12 in the top 35) and the Big Ten (nine).
The Big 12’s lowest-ranked team in the SP+ rankings — Cincinnati at No. 66 — is higher than the lowest-ranked program from each of the other power conferences, including the SEC (Mississippi State, No. 71), Big Ten (Purdue, No. 101) and ACC (Stanford, No. 88).
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The average ranking of Big 12 teams in the SP+ rankings is 42.7, with an average rating of 6.3. By comparison, the SEC has an average ranking of 22.4, with an average rating of 15.3, the Big Ten with averages of a 38.2 ranking and a 9.5 rating and the ACC with a 47.3 ranking and a 5.0 rating.
The Big 12 has the highest average returning production amongst all FBS conferences, at 61.8%, per Connelly’s numbers.
The Big 12 is fourth in average strength of schedule rating by conference (0.902), just below the ACC (0.891).
Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes (16) celebrates after defeating San Diego State in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Logan, Utah. | Eli Lucero
Where does Utah State football rank in ESPN’s post-spring SP+ rankings?
Utah State is ranked No. 119 overall in the SP+ rankings with a minus-14.8 rating, including No. 88 on offense, No. 132 on defense and No. 76 on special teams.
The Aggies are ranked 10th among Mountain West teams, ahead of only Nevada (No. 124) and New Mexico (No. 130).
Utah State is ranked No. 82 nationally in strength of schedule, with nonconference matchups against the SEC’s Texas A&M (No. 15) and Vanderbilt (No. 55), Conference USA’s UTEP (No. 123) and FCS opponent McNeese State (not ranked).
The Aggies are 133rd in returning production at 31%, including 135th on offense at 19% and 98th on defense at 43%.
Mountain West teams in the ESPN post-spring SP+ rankings
No. 33: Boise State
No. 75: UNLV
No. 83: San Jose State
No. 89: Fresno State
No. 94: Air Force
No. 97: Colorado State
No. 102: San Diego State
No. 105: Wyoming
No. 108: Hawaii
No. 119: Utah State
No. 124: Nevada
No. 130: New Mexico
Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen (4) runs through the UNLV defense on a touchdown run in the first half of the Mountain West Championship NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. | Steve Conner
Mountain West observations from ESPN’s post-spring SP+ rankings
Boise State, at No. 33, is the highest-ranked Group of 6 conference team in the SP+ rankings. The Broncos are 15 spots ahead of the next-highest Group of 6 team, No. 48 Tulane of the American Athletic Conference.
The AAC has five teams — Tulane, Memphis (No. 53), UTSA (No. 62), Army (No. 67) and Navy (No. 68) — before the second-highest ranked MWC team, UNLV at No. 75.
Half of the Mountain West’s 12 teams are ranked in the 100s in the SP+ rankings.
The average ranking of MWC teams in the SP+ rankings is 96.6, with an average rating of minus-8.6.
The Mountain West’s average rating per school of minus-8.6 is third among Group of 6 conferences, behind the AAC (minus-7.8) and Sun Belt (minus-8.1).
The MWC has an average returning production of 46.5%, per Connelly’s numbers.
The Mountain West is seventh in the nation in average strength of schedule rating by conference (0.959) and third among Group of 6 conferences.
NBA Draft Lottery, the Utah Jazz weren’t exceptionally lucky. Having amassed the worst record in the league last season, they fell as far as possibl …
At the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, the Utah Jazz weren’t exceptionally lucky.
Having amassed the worst record in the league last season, they fell as far as possible at the lottery, landing the No. 5 pick. All while teams like Dallas, San Antonio and Philadelphia moved up into the top three.
While it’s only a few spots, the difference in prospects from No. 3 to No. 5 could be a decently-sized gap, meaning Utah has likely already explored ways to get there.
The Mavericks and Spurs seem to be locked in on Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, respectively, meaning the Sixers are likely the play if the Jazz are looking to strike a deal. And with Philadelphia wanting to win as early as next year, they make sense as a trade-back candidate.
Here’s a mock trade that could benefit both Utah and Philadelphia:
The price to move forward just two spots likely won’t be too high, unless other teams are driving up the bidding price.
The centerpieces of the deal are swapping No. 3 and No. 5, as well as Jordan Clarkson — a strong rotational scoring guard — landing in Philadelphia. While Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond are decent pieces for the Sixers, Clarkson would pack a scoring punch off the bench that few could.
Additionally, the Sixers gets the No. 21 pick — which they could use to draft an NBA-ready prospect, or ship off in separate deals — as well as another second round pick for the same purpose.
The Jazz give up a few current and future assets, but get to move ahead of the Charlotte Hornets, who could be hunting the very same prospects.
At No. 3, the Jazz would have its pick of Rutgers wing Ace Bailey, Baylor hybrid VJ Edgecombe, Texas hyper-scorer Tre Johnson and plenty more. All players that could usher Utah into a new era.
The Ducks had a run taken off the scoreboard following a call reversal during a 6-5 first-round loss in the Eugene Regional.
EUGENE – Oregon baseball coach Mark Wasikowski raced up the stairs to the East Endzone Terrace at Autzen Stadium following his team’s 6-5 loss to Utah Valley in the first round of the Eugene Regional Friday night at PK Park.
Wasikowski was visibly displeased while sitting at a table awaiting players Drew Smith and Jason Reitz to join him for the postgame press conference.
The loss to the regional’s No. 4 seeded Wolverines was enough to place Wasikowski in a bad mood. But the play that proved to be the difference only added gasoline to his competitive fire.
The Ducks trailed 6-4 in the eighth inning after Smith hit his second home run of the night. Next, catcher Anson Aroz walked, then moved to third on a single by Maddox Molony.
Chase Meggers hit a sacrifice fly to left that resulted to Aroz scoring from home.
On the play, Aroz crashed into Utah Valley catcher Mason Strong at the plate after he mishandled the throw. Aroz touched the plate and the score changed to 6-5.
Wolverines coach Nate Rasmussen asked the umpires to look at the play because he felt Aroz had committed “malicious contact” while running over Strong.
Several minutes later, the umpire reversed his decision, called Aroz out because of the malicious contact, which comes with an ejection and an automatic suspension for Saturday’s game against Cal Poly. The run was wiped off the board, returning the score to 6-4.
The run proved to be enormous, as the Ducks added a run in the ninth, only to lose by a run.
Following the game, a stone-faced Wasikowski was at first matter-of-fact about the call, saying that the umpires told him the reversal came from Pittsburgh, where the NCAA’s replay command center is located.
“All they said is it came from Pittsburgh,” Wasikowski said. “I feel bad for the umpires.”
When further asked about what he was told, Wasikowski again said the call came from Pittsburgh and that it was out of the umpires’ hands. He then praised Aroz for doing what he could to score.
“I’m really proud of the way Anson Aroz went into home plate the way he did,” Wasikowski said. “I was taught to play hard. I was taught to get after it by my dad and my coaches growing up. And, unfortunately, playing hard was not rewarded tonight by whatever rule was supposedly violated by a player that was playing hard.”
Rasmussen said didn’t want to burn a challenge so he asked the umpires to review the play and they agreed.
“I just didn’t think he slid,” Rasmussen said. “That was the big thing. It just felt like he didn’t go down for an actual baseball move. That’s what I saw in the moment … All I know was that our catcher got hit hard and I was right there for his safety. And I’m glad that it obviously went in our direction.”
Despite being upset over the call, Wasikowski gave the Wolverines (33-17) credit for winning the game.
“I thought they did a tremendous job being able to capitalize on the opportunities that they had,” he said. “Very proud of the effort of the team that I coach. I guess the silver lining is we get a chance to be able to play for a regional championship four more times at PK Park.”
The Ducks (42-15) are faced with an elimination situation when they play Cal Poly (41-18), a 3-2 loser to Arizona on Friday.
Oregon must win four consecutive games to claim the regional title.
The loss included a stellar performance by 6-foot-11 junior pitcher Jason Reitz. He recorded 14 strikeouts in six innings. However, he allowed four runs in the third inning, and put two runners on base with a walk and hit by pitch in the seventh. Both runs scored to give the Wolverines a 6-3 lead.
“The 14 Ks, it is what it is but the bottom line is, I didn’t feel like I did my job to the standard that I needed to, to help us win the game,” Reitz said.
Wasikowski had considered removing Reitz before the seventh but said that the pitcher asked to remain in the game.
Oregon out-hit the Wolverines 10-5 but left eight runners on base, compared to three for Utah Valley.
“We didn’t do enough with our opportunities,” Wasikowski said. “I think we left quite a few guys on base compared to Utah Valley … We weren’t able to cash them in when we needed to.”
Wasikowski said he expects the Ducks to shake off the loss and respond well on Saturday.
“I think they’ll play great tomorrow,” Wasikowski said. “Backs against the wall … I think we’ll play much better and cleaner, probably more than we did today.”
Thanks to some clutch pitching and timely hitting, along with a fortuitous challenge that went UVU’s way, the Wolverines beat No. 12 overall seed Oregon 6-5 at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon, for Utah …
Nate Rasmussen and his suddenly hot Utah Valley baseball team delivered an unforgettable memory for players and fans alike Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Regionals.
Thanks to some clutch pitching and timely hitting, along with a fortuitous challenge that went UVU’s way, the Wolverines beat No. 12 overall seed Oregon 6-5 at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon, for Utah Valley’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win.
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Make no mistake: the Wolverines earned their upset, as they never trailed against the Big Ten’s Ducks.
“What a fun night. It would have been the best night anyways, even if we lost that, with the way competed all night,” Rasmussen said in an ESPNU interview after the game.
“I thought we did an awesome job to come out with the win.”
Jimmy De Anda finished with a team-high three RBI — “I couldn’t be prouder of the kid,” Rasmussen said of his left fielder who was 2 of 4 on the night — and Carston Herman pitched a tough 4⅔ innings in relief to earn the win, striking out six.
Behind those two star efforts, UVU put together a solid, winning performance for Rasmussen, the program’s first-year coach who earned a contract extension earlier this week after getting the Wolverines (33-27) back to the NCAAs for just the second time in school history.
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The night’s most controversial moment came in the eighth inning, when UVU was nursing a 6-4 lead after the Ducks’ Drew Smith hit his second home run of the night to start the bottom half of the frame.
Oregon then got two more runners on base with no outs thanks to a walk and a single, leaving runners at the corners, and it felt like the Ducks were due to grab their first lead of the night.
Facing an 0-2 count, Oregon’s Chase Meggers hit a shot to left field that was caught by De Anda for an out. Anson Aroz tagged up at third, and De Anda’s throw home took a high hop and went off the top of the glove of UVU catcher Mason Strong moments before Aroz ran into Strong and was initially ruled safe at home on the play.
Rasmussen challenged the ruling, asking for malicious contact from Aroz on the play that left trainers coming out to check on Strong after the hard play at the plate.
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Following a review of more than seven minutes, umpires overturned the call and Aroz was called out for the second out of the inning due to malicious contact. Aroz was also ejected from the game, meaning he won’t be available Saturday.
As such, instead of a 6-5 game with one out, the Wolverines were up 6-4 with two outs in the eighth and Herman was able to get out of the inning without any further damage.
The theatrics weren’t done though.
After Utah Valley went down in order in the top of the ninth, Herman stayed in and got into some trouble early with a leadoff walk.
Herman fought, though, and struck out Mason Neville for the first out.
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On the next at-bat, a wild pitch moved Carter Garate over to second, and then Dominic Hellman singled to move runners to the corners with one out.
After a meeting at the pitcher’s mound, Herman stayed in and faced Jacob Walsh, who got a hold of a Herman pitch and sent it deep, but it was caught on the warning track for the second out.
Though it ended up as a sac fly and made the score 6-5, UVU was one out from the win.
That’s when Rasmussen called on his closer, Cooper Littledike.
Smith, who led the Ducks with three RBI, all on home runs, was next at bat, but Littledike got him to ground into an out, ending the game and starting the celebration for UVU.
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“Carston Herman, I don’t know how many pitches he’s thrown in the last 10 days. Don’t ask me that question later, please, but he’s been a stud,” Rasmussen said.
“Cooper Littledike’s a walk-on in our program, became the closer and comes in there and gets the final out. It’s just awesome.”
With the win, Utah Valley advances to face the Arizona Wildcats in the winners bracket on Saturday, with first pitch set for 7 p.m. MDT.
Oregon, meanwhile, takes on the Cal Poly Mustangs in the one-loss bracket Saturday in the double-elimination event.
The Wildcats beat the Mustangs 3-2 in the regional’s first game Thursday.
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Friday after a slow start offensively, the Wolverines pushed ahead in the top of the third with a four-hit, four-run inning.
Brody Block walked to open the inning, then CJ Colyer singled to left field on a play wherein the left fielder lost the ball in the sun.
De Anda followed that up with a full-count shot down the left field line to score Block.
In the next at-bat, Luke Iverson hit an RBI single to right field early in the count to make it 2-0.
Then after two outs, Strong doubled the lead to 4-0 on a single to left.
It looked like UVU might get out of the third with the 4-0 lead intact after two quick outs for Oregon in the bottom half of the inning, but after a Ducks single, Smith hit a two-run homer. Then on the next pitch, Aroz blasted a home run to left field to make it 4-3.
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Over the next several innings, both teams saw their fair share of solid pitching and defense to keep the score a one-run game.
The Wolverines then pounced when an opportunity presented itself.
Oregon starting pitcher Jason Reitz, who had a career-high 14 strikeouts and retired 10 straight UVU batters at one point, finally wore down in the seventh.
A first-batter walk gave the Wolverines their first base runner since the third, and a hit by pitch put two on with no outs and out went Reitz.
Immediately after the pitching change, an Oregon error on a pick-off pushed UVU’s base runners to second and third and De Anda capitalized with a two-run single up the middle to make it 6-3.
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That was enough of a lead for Herman and Littledike to hang on to, after UVU starting pitcher Corbin Kirk went four-plus innings.
With that elusive first NCAA win in tow, the Wolverines move forward Saturday with the chance to build off what’s now a five-game win streak, all in postseason play.
“It’s huge,” Rasmussen said. “I got here four years ago as a recruiting coordinator. The team had just gone 10-47, and to be here four years later … our first program postseason win, (it’s) just huge and nobody deserves it more than these guys.”
