T-Birds Open 2024 Campaign at Utah

The Southern Utah Thunderbirds are set to open their 2024 football season with an exciting road game against the University of Utah--the game set for Thursday (8/29), at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, with kickoff at 7:00 PM MT. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+, while KSUB 590 will provide radio coverage.

Southern Utah enters this season with high expectations after finishing tied for second in the United Athletic Conference (UAC) last year. They are currently picked to finish third in the UAC. The Thunderbirds face a tough challenge against the Utah Utes, who are ranked #12 by the Associated Press and are favored to lead their new conference. The Thunderbirds last faced the Utes at the start of the 2022 season and will be looking to showcase their growth since then.

Key players for Southern Utah include offensive stars Braedon Wissler and Targhee Lambson. Wissler, who amassed 686 rushing yards and five touchdowns last season, also contributed 126 receiving yards and one touchdown. Lambson, known for his impressive performances, totaled 483 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 2023, adding two more touchdowns through the air. Defensively, Southern Utah relies on Kohner Cullimore, who led the team with 73 tackles and three sacks last season. Rylen Sua-Filo and Payton Payne are expected to strengthen the pass rush, with Sua-Filo notching two sacks and seven quarterback hurries last year, and Payne providing a strong presence on the defensive line. Safety George Ramirez, a Phil Steele All-UAC second-team player, returns with 48 tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery.