Mendenhall breaks down the tactical challenges of facing his former colleagues and an explosive Utes offense fueled by familiar playmakers.
The No. 17 Utah Utes face a familar foe on Saturday. Bronco Mendenhall and the Utah State Aggies travel to Salt Lake City to wrap up non-conference play. Given all the ties with the in-state rivaly, this one will be interesting.
The former BYU coach knows the Utes from the Holy War. He spent a decade in Provo and went 3-7 overall in the rivalry.
Ironically, this will be the first time facing Utah in a decade. Except he'll be facing a new head coach in Morgan Scalley and his former offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven, who is embracing his role for the Utes. Braden Pegan, the Aggies' best receiver last year, made the jump with McGiven.
Mendenhall is looking forward to this game. He detailed all the ties during his press conference this week.
"First of all, they're all amazing people," Mendenhall said. "Kevin McGiven, a great person and a dear friend of mine, and a very good football coach and I think a really skilled offensive coordinator, so I know him well. Devon Dampier, same thing. What a great young man and really a talented, dynamic football player and same, I would say, with Pegan."
Dampier spend one year with Mendenhall during his 2024 season at New Mexico. He's the last person you would have to explain just how talented the dual-threat quarterback can be. It's been an evolutionary process for with Dampier consistently getting better. All of that started with Mendenhall in New Mexico.
After working closely with Utah's offensive coordinator, quarterback and lead receiver there's already a good idea of how Utah will attack the Aggie's defense. But the group is so dynamic that nothing is set in stone in terms of play calls.
"Just because I know their capabilities and I know how skilled they are, that gives you a great reference point," Mendenhall said. "Now in terms of, does that lead to tendencies, et cetera? Yeah, possibly as a starting point, but the skillset and the ability really requires execution no matter what they choose to do."
Mendenhall went on to say, "But they just have, from a baseline perspective, they have my respect and admiration because of the quality of players or coach they are and what I've seen them do and I've seen it firsthand. So yeah, I'm impressed."
Mendenhall knows what McGiven is capable of in terms of creativity. There no secret about that. What might catch him off-guard is trying to prepare for one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Dampier and Byrd Ficklin are able to pick teams apart through the air and on the ground. Wayshawn Plarker can turn up the heat at any moment. Add Pegan into the mix and it's dangerous trying to cover all of them.
"Utah uses a lot of, I would just say conflict plays. You're trying to have a player kind of be asked to do two jobs and create scenarios for that to happen," Mendenhall said. "So misdirection and discipline and eye control are really critical to that."
Utah's offense is 12th in the nation in total yards and averages 54.5 points per game (6th, FBS). They're one of 15 programs to break the 100-point plateau this season.
"It's a challenge and it's very similar to playing — it's not identical — but it's very similar to playing option football," Mendenhall said. "There's assignments and there's keys and there's cues, but also the scheme is such to where it's hard to have a collaboration where each individual has to do what they need to do for it to be a collaboration."
This is the first time Mendenhall faces Scalley as a head coach. A moment years in the making for both sides. Obviously, they're familiar with each other and there's a lot of respect between the two.
"Morgan already is out to a strong start as the head coach," Mendenhall added. "But I think it's to be expected if you look at his playing career, coordinator career, and so I don't think it's surprising anyone he's doing well."
Utah hosts Utah State on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX. The 108th meeting in the Beehive State rivalry.
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