Utah's starting quarterback, Cameron Rising, is unlikely to play in the season opener against Florida. Rising tore his ACL earlier this year and has not received final clearance to return. The Utes had hoped that Rising would be available to start, but now they are preparing for "Plan B." Head coach Kyle Whittingham has named redshirt junior Bryson Barnes as the starter in Rising's place, with redshirt freshman Nate Johnson potentially being used in a "change of pace" role. Barnes has experience in high-pressure situations, having thrown his first college passes in a Rose Bowl game two years ago.

Rising's potential absence has also affected the odds for the game, with Utah going from a 9.5-point favorite to a 4.5-point favorite. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Rising's availability, analyst Joel Klatt still has high expectations for Utah this season and believes they are the better program. He emphasized the importance of Utah taking care of business in this game, as it will have an impact on how the rest of the season and the Pac-12 conference are viewed.

Regardless of who starts at quarterback, Utah will be looking to start the season strong and make a statement against Florida.