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What might the 2025 season bring for football at Utah State, BYU and the University of Utah? Brandon Judd reports there are high expectations for all three:

The Cougars are hoping to use an 11-2 season last year to springboard to further success in 2025 and are viewed as one of the favorites to win the Big 12.

The Utes are looking to overcome a rare losing campaign and regain their footing as one of college football’s top 25 programs — all with a new offensive identity.

The Aggies are trying to forge ahead and regain some stability under a familiar face — first-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who was the coach at BYU from 2005-2015.

Read more about what ESPN’s post-spring SP+ rankings say about expectations for BYU, Utah and Utah State.

Also on our minds:

The biggest Supreme Court decisions to watch for in June
Why Mike Lacey’s catch in 1979 could be the most significant in BYU history
Meagan Kohler shares why male critics might not be experts on religious women’s underclothing

Blue dots in a red sea: Utah Democrats look for a way forward

Brian King is the new face of the Utah Democratic Party.

The Utah Democratic Convention was held in Ogden on Saturday, and delegates cast their votes for new party leadership with the aim of forming a united front against the dominant Republicans in the state.

King, a former member of the Utah House of Representatives who ran for governor last year, told the Deseret News he will work to unify his party in the Beehive State. That means the “very progressive on the left end of the spectrum” and the “moderates and pragmatists and independents and unaffiliated voters and disillusioned Republicans,” he said.

“The convention came at a time when many local and national Democrats are wondering if the party can overcome its internal battles to even have a fighting chance against Republican power on the state and federal level,” Emma Pitts reports.

Read more about the Utah Democratic Party’s plans for the future.

Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Burgess Owens back Andy Biggs’ bid for Arizona governor

Rep. Andy Biggs has a vision for Arizona: He wants to turn the Grand Canyon State into the “most free, most prosperous, safest state.”

At his first rally in his bid for governor, held in Phoenix on Saturday, Biggs joked that he wanted Arizona to become “the Florida of the West.”

Biggs thanked the friends who showed up and spoke in support of him, including Utah Rep. Burgess Owens. Utah Sen. Mike Lee also made an appearance in a pre-recorded video, Gitanjali Poonia reports from Phoenix.

According to Owens, Biggs supports President Trump’s America First agenda. Should he become governor, Owens says the Arizona representative’s personal relationship with the president would give him a connection to Washington, D.C.

Read more about what Sen. Lee and Rep. Owens said about Rep. Biggs.

BYU Education Society Annual Conference June 20 - For educators across K-12 and higher education, individuals, and parents

Join us for a day of “Joy-Filled Learning Through Christ.” Keynotes include BYU Religion Professor Anthony Sweat who will present “A House of Learning: The Lord’s Teaching Methods in the Temple.” Plus, author Ganel-Lyn Condie and breakout sessions. In person or online. View agenda and register.

Politics

The biggest Supreme Court decisions to watch for in June (Deseret News)
The new Interior secretary is a man of the West. Here's what his leadership could mean for the region (Deseret News)

The U.S.

How to save higher ed in the U.S., according to Gordon Gee (Deseret News)
Teens driving in summer: ‘100 deadliest days’ (Deseret News)

The World

Gaza aid trucks rushed by desperate and hungry crowds, WFP says (BBC)
IAEA report spells out past secret nuclear activities in Iran (Reuters)

Sports

Why Mike Lacey’s catch in 1979 could be the most significant in BYU history (Deseret News)
Utah Valley’s first NCAA Tournament win was full of drama — clutch pitching, timely hitting, an ejection and a thrilling end (Deseret News)
How BYU women athletes and other local ties fared at NCAA prelims (Deseret News)
Here’s why the Delta Center team store is closing next week (Deseret News)

Faith

Meagan Kohler: Maybe male critics are not experts on religious women’s underclothing (Deseret News)
Relief Society general president ministers to women in Indonesia (Deseret News)

Health

Getting help: neurodiversity, aging, addiction and mental illness (Deseret News)
CDC counters RFK Jr., keeps COVID vaccine on schedule for kids (Deseret News)

🗓️ Events Calendar

We put together a list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah in June. Check it out and let us know if we are missing anything!

Here are some highlights for events in Utah today:

Wheeler Sunday Market | Wheeler Farm, Murray
Park Silly Sunday Market | Historic Main Street, Park City
Michael McLean’s “Threads” | The Ideal Playhouse, Heber City

Check your inbox tomorrow morning for more news from the Beehive State and beyond!

And reply to this email or email [email protected] to tell us what you think of Utah Today.

Thanks for reading!

— Ariel