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Jason Batacao

University of Utah sports reporter

Jason Batacao, a former Oklahoma City resident who graduated from the University of Oklahoma, covers the University of Utah for The Salt Lake Tribune. When he’s not covering the Utes, Jason enjoys watching movies, playing on his Xbox Series X and reading books.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) A Utah Utes fan celebrates after the officials confirmed a touchdown during the game between the Utah Utes and the Brigham Young Cougars at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.

Why the Eccles family, Dave Checketts are launching a $1.2B private-equity fund

By Jason Batacao | April 30, 2025, 12:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes tight end Caleb Lohner (84) and Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) celebrate a touchdown as the Utah Utes host the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.

A former Utah football and basketball player gets selected by the Denver Broncos in 2025 NFL Draft

By Jason Batacao | April 27, 2025, 5:36 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Runners endure cold wet conditions as they participate in the Salt Lake City Marathon on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

Watch out for these road closures during the Salt Lake City Marathon this weekend

By Jason Batacao | April 25, 2025, 7:01 p.m.

Utah wide receiver Zacharyus Williams (89) looks for running room after a reception against the Central Florida defense including defensive back Quadric Bullard (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Utah football reportedly loses starting wide receiver to transfer portal

By Jason Batacao | April 22, 2025, 10:41 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah head coach Carly Dockendorf cheers with fans during the Big 12 Gymnastics Championship at Maverick Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 22, 2025.

Here’s how Utah women’s gymnastics coach Carly Dockendorf is reflecting on the 2025 season

By Jason Batacao | April 22, 2025, 12:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune)
as the Utah Utes host the Baylor Bears, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.

Where does Utah stand with NIL and revenue-sharing ahead of the 2025 season?

By Jason Batacao | April 21, 2025, 12:00 p.m.

Utah's Grace McCallum competes on the uneven bars during the NCAA women's gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Utah gymnastics falls short of national title, placing fourth in NCAA championship finals

By Jason Batacao | April 20, 2025, 12:16 a.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) at the Utah Utes spring football game in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Why Utah’s spring game left Devon Dampier ‘looking forward’ to the Utes’ 2025 season

By Jason Batacao | April 19, 2025, 11:28 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham as the Utah Utes host the Baylor Bears, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.

College football teams are canceling spring games. Here’s why Utah is sticking with tradition.

By Jason Batacao | April 19, 2025, 11:51 p.m.

(Tony Gutierrez) | AP) Utah team and staff celebrate after learning the team's score in the semifinal of the NCAA women's gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025.

How the Utah gymnasts held off defending champs LSU to advance to the NCAA finals

By Jason Batacao | April 18, 2025, 4:59 a.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah head Carly Dockendorf hugs Zoe Johnson after her vault as assistant coach Mike Hunger looks on, in the NCAA gymnastics regional finals at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

How to watch the Utah Red Rocks in the NCAA gymnastics championships

By Jason Batacao | April 18, 2025, 12:22 p.m.

(Wade Payne | AP) Syracuse guard Elijah Moore (8) shoots over Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Runnin’ Utes earn a commitment from a former 4-star recruit from Syracuse

By Jason Batacao | April 18, 2025, 12:29 a.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Avery Neff reacts after her floor routine in the NCAA gymnastics regional finals at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Utah’s Avery Neff once thought her season was over — now she’s the guiding force for the Red Rocks’ chance at an NCAA title

By Jason Batacao | April 18, 2025, 4:52 a.m.

(Anna Fuder | Utah Athletics) Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham coaches players during spring football practice in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Here’s what Kyle Whittingham and the Utes are targeting in the spring transfer portal

By Jason Batacao | April 16, 2025, 12:00 p.m.

(John Raoux |AP) Utah wide receiver Zacharyus Williams (89) looks for running room after a reception against the Central Florida defense on Nov. 29, 2024, in Orlando, Fla.

Has Utah football finally found its starting wide receiver?

By Jason Batacao | April 9, 2025, 7:46 p.m.

(Anna Fuder | Utah Athletics) Defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley coaches players during Utah spring football practice in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

How will the Utes replace BYU-bound Keanu Tanuvasa? Morgan Scalley has a plan.

By Jason Batacao | April 8, 2025, 12:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Grace McCallum on the beam in the NCAA gymnastics regional finals at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

How Grace McCallum’s magic saved the Red Rocks and sent them to a 49th straight NCAA finals

By Jason Batacao | April 7, 2025, 6:29 p.m.

(Rebecca S. Gratz | AP) Fairleigh Dickinson's Terrence Brown (2) plays against Creighton during an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. Brown has committed to play at Utah under new coach Alex Jensen.

Utah men’s basketball receives first transfer portal commitment of Alex Jensen era

By Jason Batacao | April 4, 2025, 8:18 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Avery Neff reacts after competing on the floor in the NCAA regional semi-finals at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Thursday, April 3, 2025.

Utah’s Avery Neff saves the day, plus 2 other keys to the Red Rocks’ NCAA regional win

By Jason Batacao | April 4, 2025, 2:03 p.m.

(Anna Fuder | Utah Athletics) Utah quarterback Nate Johnson participates in spring football practice in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Here’s why QB Nate Johnson returned to the Utes after a year away

By Jason Batacao | April 3, 2025, 9:30 p.m.

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