Quack-12 Football Check In: The Mountain Teams

Quack-12 Football Check In: The Mountain Teams

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Quack-12 Football Check In: The Mountain Teams
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 25: Wayshawn Parker #1 of the Utah Utes runs with the ball against Ben Finneseth #28 of the Colorado Buffaloes and D.J. McKinney #8 of the Colorado Buffaloes during the first half of the game between Colorado Buffaloes and Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 25, 2025, in Salt Lake City, UT. (Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images

Hey Everyone. Today is another check-in on old rivals/friends from the Rocky Mountains.

Colorado

Over/Under Win Total

SP+ Ranking: +0.9 (65th in FBS 15th in the Big 12)

Head Coach: Deion Sanders 4th Season

Offensive Coordinator: Brennan Marion 1st Season

Defensive Coordinator: Chris Marve 1st Season

Projected Starting QB: Julian Lewis

The first year after leaving the PAC-12 coach Sanders lead the Buffaloes to their first winning season in almost a decade and their 2nd winning season in the last two decades. That team was lead by his son Shedeur at QB as well as Heisman winner and dual position all-American Travis Hunter. Both those players left for the NFL and the Buffaloes struggled last year going 3-9 which is Sanders worst season in Boulder to date.

Both of Sanders coordinators moved on after 2025, to replace them Sanders hired Brennan Marion who was most recently the head coach at Sacramento State running what is affectionally called the GO-GO offence.

Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball Sanders hired Chris Marve who was most recently the CO DC at Virginia Tech from 2022 to 2024.

The QB will be Julian Lewis who was a high-profile high school recruit Sanders landed in his first High School class and got his feet wet with his first 3 collegiate starts last November.

Utah

Over/Under Win Total

SP+ Ranking: 11.9 (25th in FBS 3rd in the Big 12)

Head Coach: Morgan Scalley 1st Season

Offensive Coordinator: Kevin McGiven 1st Season

Defensive Coordinator: Colton Swan 1st Season

Projected Starting QB: Devon Dampier

For the first since 2004 Kyle Whittingham will not be the head coach of the Utah Utes, as long-time defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley takes over the reigns.

His offensive coordinator is Kevin McGiven who has spent the last 20 years in various QB and Co-OC roles in the West while his defensive coordinator will be Colton Swan who has been the LB coach at Utah since 2019.

At QB its returning starter Devan Dampier who put up a Passer Rating of 146.8 in 2025 good for 36th in the nation while also being a dangerous threat to run as well.

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