Greg McElroy picks Utah to win, cover at home vs. Texas Tech

A huge Big 12 matchup is on the books for Week 4. Two undefeated programs will link up in Salt Lake City — Texas Tech will take on Utah in a showdown with major conference implications.

Both teams have dreams of winning the Big 12 in 2025. Greg McElroy predicted which team would have the leg up on the other in Week 4 on the latest episode of his Always College Football podcast.

“I’ll take Utah,” McElroy predicted. “I think the home field advantage and Devon Dampier will be too much. His athleticism will neutralize a ferocious pass rush, and I think this offensive line will emphasize the point of attack, and they’ll be able to create some surges in the run game.”

As McElroy alluded to, Utah’s offense has been impressive in 2025, mainly due to its quarterback in Dampier. That’s not to say Texas Tech hasn’t made some doubters into believers over the first month of the season, but home-field advantage might be the difference for the Utes.

Moreover, the showdown is certainly one of Week 4’s better matchups on the schedule. If the Red Raiders can go into a hostile environment and win, it’ll prove their offseason spending was more than worth it, and there’s no limit to how high they can climb.

Only one team can remain undefeated on Saturday. FOX will be carrying that one at Noon ET from Rice-Eccles Stadium. We’ll see whether Utah or Texas Tech takes control of the Big 12 tomorrow.

More on the Utah Utes

Meanwhile, veteran Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is currently coaching his 20th season with the program, where he boasts a 170-86 career record. He is tied for the second-longest tenured coach in all of college football and has led the Utes to a 3-0 start this season after going just 5-7 last season.

College football analyst David Pollack took to the ‘See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack‘ podcast this week to discuss the Utes’ impressive offense prior to their aforementioned mega-important matchup against  Texas Tech this weekend. While discussing Utah, Pollack revealed that he believes Whittingham will retire after this season.

“We knew Utah would bounce back,” Pollack said. “We counted on that. We absolutely counted on that because of Kyle Whittingham‘s track record. Nobody doubted that man. Nobody doubted that he forgot how to coach or that he forgot to do the details. Now, this team looks so different, though. That’s what’s fun to watch. Kyle Whittingham, I think it’s his last year.

“From everything I’ve heard, I think he’s gonna go out this season. I really do think so. But if he does, he’ll go out with the most unique offense he’s had. You haven’t seen this type of an offense. You saw it with Urban Meyer, but before him, a lot. A running QB. A new system. A new OC. So many new guys in the Transfer Portal. A lot of newness.”

This revelation comes just months after Whittingham hinted that he might have retired prior to this season had Utah won the Big 12 in 2024. Sitting on 170 wins, Whittingham is the winningest head coach in the team’s history. Perhaps he can go out with a bang.

— On3’s Daniel Hager contributed to this article.