1-on-1 with DP – 93.7 The Ticket KNTK - Utah's strengths: December 31, 11:25am

Episode Date: December 31, 2025

DP breaks down what Utah is good at as the Utes prepare to play the Cornhuskers in the Las Vegas Bowl.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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please contact Connix Ontario at 1866-531-2600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario. Welcome back. You know, from Vegas, let me say there's some things that the Utah folks aren't real happy about this matchup when it comes to history. That rosiness in their cheeks goes away when you mentioned that Nebraska has never lost to Utah in football. So there's a whole lot of conversation. They went deep into, hey, you know that Nebraska's only 500 in bowl games? I was like, man, y'all are digging in here, bro.

This thing is meaningful, which made me think, this is meaningful for them. They, the youths called Nebraska Blue Bloods. And I found that interesting because they don't like giving that away. So the fact that they thought of that, how many bowls, how many different bowls do you think that, Bach, do you know the answer? How many bowls the Huskers have been in, played in? I don't know the answer. You know, thankfully back in the day, it was more orange bowl than not. So maybe it's, it's lower than you would initially think.

I'm going to say 18. 18 is the number, Bach, well done. 18 is the number. It's, there's some few things in it. And, of course, when you get to these kind of, kind of events, there's a lot of. of data being exchanged between programs and fans and otherwise and you know they pointed out that you know Utah had the number two choice you know they were the number two selection when he came to bowls for the big for the big 12 and you know this is you know Nebraska's number

10 in the big 10 why are we even why are we even and they said that's the 14 and a half point spread is the fact that you know common opponents And then, you know, shared interest. And they said, well, really, from a stat standpoint, it makes sense. I didn't buy into it as much. But I understood. You're going to get an interesting group called the game. Brock Oswald was holding court.

And he'll do the color analyst work for today. And it, quarterback, former quarterbacks talk about the game differently than us, us normals. Like, he was deep. his bag with the schemes that could be run, his question about personnel decisions that are going to have to be made. And then he brought up that Jason Autry is going to be the lead referee. And he says, that means that physicality will be allowed. And I found that interesting because I've heard Nebraska talking about defensively playing physical, upfront playing physical. but that's Utah's

that's their logo their logo is the physicality so I think for the old folks the folks who like the bigs to get up there and get busy it's going to be that kind of game it's going to be that kind of game where the bigs

and I say it often people get mad but the bigs determine the outcome well I don't think that's any different today I think whoever has the advantage defensively and offensively up front Those are going to be the teams that have the most success. But I can now, the question for you, there's a beautiful little trophy that these teams are playing for today. Any idea what that thing, what that trophy is named?

I have no clue. I saw the trophy. It's a great looking piece of jewelry. Let me tell you. But the Rosset-T. Raylon Cotter lost Vegas Bowl championship trophy. And I thought, okay. that's a name that that that'll do and they said well yeah but there's also there's a MVP trophy

that folks are playing for and so it's twofold one the name of it uh is the rich abasian most valuable player trophy biggest money does interesting thing to sponsorships bro i'm just i'm just going to say that some of this is just strange uh bach if and it's interesting I'm going to challenge you here that one of the texter said that the defense will have to step up to win this game for Nebraska. And I don't know that that's wrong. If that happens, who is the Husker defender most likely to win the rich Abasian MVP trophy if it's Nebraska? Yeah, I can't repeat either of those things that you just said about the trophies. But I would go with defensive MVP here.

I think you're going to need a big day. Obviously, you know, from the defensive line that's been a big, you know, big talking point for the rush defense. The linebackers fit into that too. And so, I mean, you've got a couple guys here that have poured their heart and soul into this Husker program, you know, on both sides of the ball. Turner Corcoran certainly on I think as well. Daven Wright is a guy, I mean, the most Husker there's ever been of a Husker, right?

I mean, seven years in the program among the teams. leader, if not the team leader in tackles this year. And I think that he's going to be a big part, especially with this defensive plan. He is the team leader in tackles right now. But I think the biggest thing, as you look at Utah, and they come in here, you know, and the ground game is going to be big. They've got a couple different backs that they can go to. But it's the quarterback run.

And so I don't know if he's going to get that assignment or not, you know, might be more the shavers of Dylan Rogers or, you know, whoever else they're throwing out there. Marquis Watson, Trent. But to me, that's where I look. I would start with your leading tackler in a linebacker position that's going to be huge and stopping the run. I think, and he's shown throughout his career

that he can make plays outside of that. You know, he can get an interception, you can force a phone, you know, that sort of thing. So in his last game as a Husker, I think he's the key on the defensive side of the ball, especially with Deshaun Singleton out. Have we, have we undervalue, or overvalued Javan Wright's career as a Husker. It's tough to say because I don't know where people kind of put it at

because, you know, it's just all the injuries and the health problems and stuff that they've kind of popped up. It's hard for a year to year to like settle in and say, this is where Javan is at on the field or kind of in our ranking system or whatever we want to say. But I think as of, you know, as of today, again, this year, he's going to be the leading tackler on the team for what was the top 25 defense. But then you kind of blend in the talks about, well, the defense coordinator got fired.

There are certain games. So again, it's a really hard, I think, to necessarily place. But I think there is an understanding that Nebraska is generally better with him on the field than not over the last several years. And that's going to be a question for a long time, certainly in his life, but even for Husker fans is, you know, if he was able to string some momentum together. and, you know, maybe play back-to-back years, what really could have been, what could have happened. So I would say slightly probably underrated his career and his impact so far. And hopefully, again, that he's able to show off in his final game and remind us that that that should not be the case.

Black, what are your thoughts on giving late season black shirts? There's all sorts of thoughts about giving black shirts, right? Should it be the starting unit? Should it be this? I mean, we had a punner get a black shirt last year. So, you know, I think it's a good honor, you know, especially toward the end of the end of your career, toward the end of the season to do something like that. It also is, it can be tough, right?

This was not a great last end of the ride for the black shirts. So when you're handing that one out now, you know, what does that mean throughout it? But I think the bigger thing is don't get too caught up in the tradition. Don't get like, let's, if you have a chance, to make a special moment for a guy that's, you know, blood, sweat and tears, put that into the program, probably never envisioned himself getting that reward. I think it's a special moment. I wouldn't start handing them out freely, but even like you talk about Trel Farley and

you talk to those guys and it was somewhat of a tradition to give the seniors that were going out, even if they weren't starters, black shirts toward the end of the season. So, you know, I think it's a very cool moment that every Husker, especially when you're growing up, wanting to be on the Husker defense or when you first get to campus and learn about the black shirt defense. That's what you're working toward. And a lot of them are probably thinking, you know, it's not going to happen with my position on the team. So I think those, those honorary black shirts are pretty cool.

And then, you know, as well as if you just kind of earn it throughout the season. I mean, I don't have a problem giving too many away. I think it's weird. I mean, everybody's got their different opinions on black shirts and at any time of the year. So, I mean, I like traditionally not not going. overboard with it, but toward the end of the season, I like it. Yeah, I listen, I mean, Derek Branch is such an exceptional young man that I thought, you know,

maybe give it to him early in the year if he's going to be your captain and leadership and your voice and kind of one of your faces of the program that you honored that way. But I'm glad they finally got it right in the season. A few stats about Utah before we get into this final segment of a bot, that they have three runners above 500 yards. Now, listen, even with Emmett, Utah almost doubled Nebraska's rush game. Let's be clear with the numbers. This Utah offense averaged 269 yards, 270 yards rushing.

That's second in the country. That's second in the country. And it, listen, it's got bells, whistles, it's got tassels, it's got the whole shabang, man. They will run it down your throat, and then they'll get to the edge, and then they'll give you some misdirection. Discipline's going to matter, but those are numbers that are in place. For comparison's sake, Nebraska was 10th in the Big Ten in rushing, rushing offense. Utah's second in the country. Second in the country.

Passing games, both of them leave a little to be to disdeme. desired, Nebraska with better numbers, 228 yards a game to 208 yards for Utah, total offense. Utah's offense, sixth in the country, sixth in the country, 478 yards of offense per game. Now, some of that can be attributed to Big 12, right? We'll discount some of that, but we can also say the numbers are still the numbers. Where they excel, third down offense, those options, those things that they do, and giving themselves, keeping a defense off balance, being able to power game it if needed, and have a quarterback that isn't made to avoid contact, that will get the tough

yard at the industry. They were fourth in the country, fourth in the country, and third down offense. So Nebraska's the ability to get off the field defensively, critical, critical, critical, critical. the red zone offense that Nebraska fans that color red matters Utah is exceptional fourth in the country in red zone offense again those same short yardage you know schemes and playmakers that's where it shows up so those are some things to pay attention to as you head into this thing. Bach will take a break the big part of bowl games

especially for the athletes swag bags. I got my hands on a swag bag. I'll let you know what's in it. I'll let you know what's in it when we come back. Watch live on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitch. You're listening to One-on-One with DP on 937, The Ticket, and The Ticketfm.com.