The Cal Poly Mustangs are set to travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium for a Week 2 showdown of the 2025 regular season. Cal Poly looks to rebound after a challenging opening game last season, where they fell to the Stanford Cardinal. This matchup will be an opportunity for the Mustangs to gain traction in their early season efforts.
Utah, coming off a commanding 43-10 victory over UCLA in their season opener, enters this game with momentum and a home-field advantage. Ranked 25th in the AP poll, the Utes aim to continue their winning ways as they host the Mustangs. Playing under the lights on ESPN+, Utah seeks to showcase their strong start to the season at their home stadium.
The game will provide an interesting narrative as Cal Poly attempts to improve their road record, currently standing at 0-1 from the previous season. Meanwhile, Utah’s performance in their first road test of the season has set a positive tone. Fans can expect an intriguing contest as both teams vie for success in this early season encounter.
Utah vs Cal Poly At a Glance
- Game Location: Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT
- Game Date & Time: Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
- Broadcast Info: Available on ESPN+
- Utah Utes Record: 1-0 this season
- Cal Poly Mustangs Record: 0-1 last season
- Weather: Outdoor field with no specific weather details provided
Utah Utes Look to Continue Dominance in Upcoming Game
Season Overview
The Utah Utes started the 2025 season with a commanding win against the UCLA Bruins, securing a 43-10 victory. With their offense ranking 19th in points scored and a strong rushing attack ranking 18th, the Utes have set a solid foundation for the season.
Their defense has been equally impressive, allowing only 10 points in their first game, ranking 6th in points against. With a focus on sacks and interceptions, the Utes have established themselves as a defensive force early in the season.
Offensive Standouts
Quarterback Devon Dampier led the charge with 206 passing yards in the opening game, placing him as a key figure in the team’s offensive strategy. His performance includes 2 passing touchdowns, contributing significantly to the Utes’ success.
On the ground, the running game is powered by NaQuari Rogers and Wayshawn Parker, each contributing over 60 rushing yards in the first game. The duo’s ability to penetrate defenses will be crucial in maintaining the team’s offensive momentum.
Defensive Strength
Utah’s defense, ranking 6th in points against, demonstrated their strength by limiting UCLA to just 10 points. The Utes also excelled in creating pressure, ranking 4th in sacks, showcasing their ability to disrupt opposing offenses.
Their defense also secured a critical interception, ranking 2nd in the nation, further highlighting their knack for creating turnovers. With such a robust defensive front, the Utes will aim to continue shutting down opponents in upcoming games.
Upcoming Challenges
The Utes will next host the Cal Poly Mustangs at Rice-Eccles Stadium, aiming to build on their initial success. Following this, they will face the Wyoming Cowboys away, a game that will test their ability to perform on the road.
With a solid start to the season, Utah’s schedule presents opportunities to further assert their dominance. The team will need to maintain their high level of play to overcome these challenges.
Betting Trends
- SU All Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- SU as Favorite: 1-0 (100.0%)
- SU in Away Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- ATS All Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- ATS as Favorite: 1-0 (100.0%)
- O/U All Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
Cal Poly Mustangs: A Look into Their Recent Game Performance
Team Overview
The Cal Poly Mustangs have encountered challenges in the 2024 season, particularly on the offensive front. Averaging just 7 points per game, their offense ranks 134th nationally, signaling struggles in scoring. Their passing game has shown some promise with 204 yards per game, yet it still positions them at 164th in the rankings.
Defensively, the Mustangs have had difficulty containing opponents, allowing 41 points per game, which ranks them 14th. Their pass rush has been relatively ineffective, recording only 1 sack, positioned at 45th nationally. Despite this, their fumble recovery efforts rank 15th, showcasing some defensive aggression.
Key Players
Bo Kelly, the leading quarterback for the Mustangs, has shown potential with 149 passing yards in his first game, ranking 309th nationally. Kelly’s performance, however, didn’t translate into touchdowns, with zero passing touchdowns recorded. In contrast, Jackson Akins, another quarterback, managed 33 passing yards, yet also didn’t find the end zone.
On the ground, Aiden Ramos stands out as the top rusher with 22 rushing yards, placing him at 1163rd. Ramos also contributed with 4 receptions for 30 receiving yards. Jaedon Matthews, another key rusher, managed 10 rushing yards, indicating room for improvement in the running game.
Recent Game Performance
In their recent game against Stanford, the Mustangs struggled both offensively and defensively. They managed only 13 first downs compared to Stanford’s 22. Their passing game yielded 204 yards, while the rushing game was limited to a mere 26 yards.
The Mustangs’ defense allowed Stanford to rack up 318 passing yards and 119 rushing yards. Turnovers were a concern as well, with Cal Poly throwing one interception and recovering one fumble. Despite these setbacks, the Mustangs showed discipline by committing fewer turnovers than their opponents.
Team Betting Trends
- Cal Poly is 0-1 against the spread this season.
- The Mustangs have hit the under in their last game.
- They have yet to cover the spread when playing away from home this season.
Utah vs Cal Poly Prediction: Over 47.5
Utah’s offense has shown impressive output with a current season points average of 43 points per game. This offensive firepower is backed by their ranking of 19th in points for, as well as a strong rushing game that ranks 18th. Their capability to score indicates that they can contribute significantly to a high-scoring game.
Cal Poly, despite their struggles, allowed 41 points in their last season’s regular season game, showcasing vulnerabilities on defense. This trend suggests that Utah should have ample opportunities to capitalize and put points on the board. Given Utah’s offensive strengths and Cal Poly’s defensive shortcomings, a high scoring game is likely.
The overall betting trends for Utah also support this prediction, with the team hitting the over in their last game. Their offensive prowess and the defensive gaps of Cal Poly align with a scenario where the total score exceeds the 47.5 point line. Utah’s ability to control the pace and scoring will be pivotal in driving the game past this threshold.
Projecting a final score that supports this over pick, Utah is expected to win convincingly at home. With their offensive capabilities, a final score line of Utah 45 – Cal Poly 10 appears within reason, comfortably surpassing the 47.5 total.
- Utah vs Cal Poly Prediction: Over 47.5
- Utah vs Cal Poly Score: Utah 45 – Cal Poly 10
