Utah didn't have the best season finishing 6-6 but they are 10-1 in bowl games under Kyle Wittingham and are looking to finish the season on a strong note. To do so they'll have to stop a high powered West Virginia attack that is missing QB Will Grier (finger injury) but still has receivers David Sills (returning for his senior year) and Ka'Ruan White. Utah has their own talented receiver in Darren Carrington (#8 WR) who has continued to play well since transferring from Oregon. Carrington is a deep threat using explosive speed to win downfield. On defense the Utes have a strong defensive line anchored by two talented defensive tackles. Lowell Lotulelei is aa stout run defender whose able to clog up running lanes while Filippo Mokofisi is more athletic looking to penetrate. Off the edge is DE Kylie Fitts who really attacks the edge of the offensive tackles with speed and agility. Seeing Fitts match up with West Virginia LT Yodny Cajuste should be a fun under the radar matchup.
This game is lacking a lot of NFL Draft sizzle, but there is at least a couple of prospects to keep an eye on. Northern Illinois CB Shawun Lurry isn't going to go on the first two days of the draft and may not even be drafted, but he's going to make an NFL team. Lurry lacks good size at 5'8 170lbs but is a feisty defender that has good ball skills. Lurry had 9 interceptions as a sophomore developing a good reputation forcing opponents to go away from him his final two years (finished with 14 career interceptions). Another player to keep an eye on is Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith (redshirt sophomore) who tied for the most sacks of any FBS player and is somebody to watch going forward.
With Chip Kelly taking over the Bruins this was likely going to be Josh Rosen's final game with UCLA but a late season concussion forced the UCLA medical staff to hold Rosen out of the game. While you want players to be safe we miss out on one last look at him before he likely becomes a top 3 pick in April's draft. Josh Rosen (#1 QB) has elite arm talent and could have torched a Wildcat defense that has given up the second most passing yards in college football this season. Instead we'll have to focus our attention on the matchup between UCLA C Scott Quessenberry (#3 C) and KState DT Will Geary. Geary is undersized at 6'0 295lbs but landed on the famous Bruce Feldman Freak's List. Another player to keep an eye on is UCLA S Jaleel Wadood (#3 S) who has good range and is a force coming up to stop the run.