Cam Rising reportedly will miss No. 4 Utah’s season-opener Thursday, Aug. 31, against Florida. The game will be live streamed on fuboTV (free trial).

Rising has been rehabilitating a torn ACL suffered January in the Rose Bowl and was limited in August practices. Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson are next up in the pecking order.

Barnes filled in for an injured Rising each of the past two Rose Bowl games. He made his first career start against Washington State in 2022, throwing for 175 yards on 17-of-27 passing in a 21-17 win over the Cougars.

Florida, for certain, will debut a new quarterback. Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz joined the Gators in the offseason and won the starting job in training camp.

Mertz started 32 games for Wisconsin over three seasons. He tallied 5,405 career yards and 38 career touchdowns while completing 60% of his passes.

What time is Utah-Florida today?

Florida and Utah are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. ET) on Thursday, Aug. 31.

Will it be live streamed?

FuboTV

The game will be live streamed on fuboTV, which offers a free trial. The most basic of plans is the “fubo pro” package, which comprises 146-plus channels for $74.99 per month. Like all cord-cutting alternatives, there are plenty of options, especially for sports. It comes with more than 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR, and up to 10 screens at once.

There is also the “fubo elite” package, which comprises 205-plus channels for $84.99 per month. It comes with fuboExtra (48 more channels) and News Plus (11 more channels). Plus, more than 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR, and up to 10 screens at once.

The “fubo premiere” package is “fubo elite” with the addition of Showtime for $94.99 per month.

Will it be televised?

Florida and Utah will be broadcast on ESPN.

Preview

DEFENSIVE EVOLUTION: Missed tackles were a key element of Utah’s three-point loss to Florida in 2022. Youth and inexperience on defense were factors in the Utes struggling with Florida’s speed at the skill positions. Utah had 29 missed tackles against the Gators, many resulting in big plays in decisive moments.

The Utes are in a much different spot defensively this season. Ten starters return on defense, headlined by preseason All-Pac-12 first-team selections Junior Tafuna, Karene Reid and Cole Bishop.

“I know, especially on the defense, we want this one back,” Bishop said. “We had a pretty rough game last year. At least for me, this one is circled.”

EGUAKUN QUESTIONABLE: Florida listed starting center Kingsley Eguakun as questionable. Eguakun hasn’t fully participated in practices since injuring an ankle on Aug. 16.

“He’s making progress. He’s not quite there yet,” Florida coach Billy Napier said. “We’re always very transparent and I think questionable would be the right description.”

Eguakun is the only returning full-time starter on the Gators’ offensive line. Jake Slaughter has taken first-team snaps at center and will likely slide into the starting spot if Eguakun doesn’t play.

RARE ROAD TRIP: Florida will open a season with a true road game for the first time since playing at Miami in 1987. It will also be the first true road game against a non-SEC opponent since playing at Syracuse in 1991.

Hosting Florida will be a milestone for Utah. The Gators are the first SEC team to travel to Salt Lake City to face the Utes.

“We’ve made great strides and inroads into our national brand,” Whittingham said. “It’s still a work in progress, but (a home game with an SEC team) doesn’t happen if our brand hasn’t strengthened throughout the years.”

CATCH STREAK: Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall enters the season having caught a pass in 28 consecutive games. Pearsall led Florida with 661 receiving yards on 33 receptions last season, a year after transferring from Arizona State. Of those catches, 27 went for first downs and 28 netted double-digit yardage.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.