Tag: Utah Utes

Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes the ball against Cincinnati during the third quarter in the week-12 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.

Rocco Becht, No. 22 Iowa State to test Utah’s stingy defense

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht put it succinctly after his team’s 34-17 win over Cincinnati last week.

“Whenever the ball is in my hands,” he said, “I can make a play with it.”

Becht will try to keep making those plays on Saturday night when the 22nd-ranked Cyclones bid to keep their Big 12 Conference championship hopes alive in Salt Lake City against struggling Utah.

After losing two straight games to fall behind BYU (9-1, 6-1) and Colorado (8-2, 6-1) in the conference, Iowa State (8-2, 5-2) needed Becht to make plays to get back on track. He threw a third-quarter touchdown to put the Cyclones ahead for good at 17-10 and added a fourth-quarter scoring run after the Bearcats trimmed their deficit to three points.

Becht completed 24 of 33 passes for 234 yards while adding 48 yards on seven rushes. He comes into this week’s game with 2,628 passing yards and 17 touchdowns.

What Becht gets on Saturday night likely will be earned. The Utes (4-6, 1-6) have dropped six straight games but the defense hasn’t been responsible for much of it, save for last week’s 49-24 defeat at Colorado.

Shedeur Sanders carved Utah up for 340 passing yards and three touchdowns in its first bad game of the year defensively. The Utes gave up an average of 20.4 points over their first five losses but simply haven’t been able to score enough to help their defense.

“This is, bar none, the best defense that we’ll play,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. “You look at their front seven, all fifth- and sixth-year seniors, some of the best defensive players in the country at their position.”

But Utah’s offense simply hasn’t been competent since veteran quarterback Cam Rising suffered an injury in a September win over Baylor that sidelined him for three games. Rising then was knocked out in his return game at Arizona State on Oct. 11 with what turned out to be a season-ending injury.

Freshman Isaac Wilson has showed flashes of brilliance from time to time but simply hasn’t played with the consistency needed to win at this level.

“Right now, I’m in the ‘Twilight Zone.’ It’s the most difficult year of my coaching career, hands down,” Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Not even close.”

Wilson has thrown for 1,436 yards and 10 touchdowns but also has tossed 11 interceptions and completed only 54.8 percent of his attempts. Aside from running back Micah Bernard and his 880 rushing yards, the offense is starved for consistent production.

Picked to win the Big 12 in July, Utah must win this week and next week at UCF just to qualify for a bowl game.

“We’re just not potent enough on offense,” Whittingham said.

While the Utes scrape out 22.7 points and 353.8 yards per game, Iowa State is averaging 31.4 and 434.2, respectively.

The Cyclones own a 4-1 lead in the all-time series but the teams haven’t played since 2010, when Utah went to Ames and scored a 68-27 victory.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) looks on before the game against the Utah Utes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Shedeur Sanders carries No. 17 Colorado past Utah 49-24

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Shedeur Sanders threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns as No. 17 Colorado withstood a late rally in a 49-24 win over Utah on Saturday in Boulder, Colo.

Sanders connected on 30 of 41 passes and had an interception. Travis Hunter made big plays on offense along with an interception and pass defended on defense. He added five receptions for 55 yards and a 5-yard rushing touchdown.

Colorado’s LaJohntay Wester had 10 receptions for 77 yards and a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown. Drelon Miller caught six passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, while Will Sheppard had five catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns.

Isaiah Augustave had seven carries for 59 yards and a touchdown for Colorado (8-2, 6-1 Big 12), while Nikhai Hill-Green and DJ Mckinney also had interceptions The Colorado defense had four sacks.

Isaac Wilson was 21-of-40 passing for 236 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions for Utah (4-6, 1-6 Big 12). Cole Becker had first-half field goals of 32, 34 and 47 yards for the Utes.

Utah’s Dorian Singer had five receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown and Caleb Lohner had a touchdown catch.

On the first play of the game, Sanders’ pass was intercepted by Lanyard Barton. The pick led to Becker’s first field goal and an early 3-0 Utes lead.

At 8:09 in the first quarter, Sanders lofted a 40-yard touchdown pass to Sheppard on a fourth-down play as Colorado took a 7-3 lead. Wester’s punt return touchdown gave Colorado a 14-3 lead and Sheppard’s second TD catch just before halftime gave Colorado a 21-6 lead.

Early in the second half, the Buffaloes turned Hill-Green’s interception into points one play later when Augustave high stepped into the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown run and a 28-9 Colorado lead.

Later in the third quarter, Singer and Wilson hooked up for a 40-yard touchdown to shrink the Buffaloes’ lead to 28-16.

With 13:58 left in the game, Drelon Miller fought through two tackles on a 47-yard touchdown reception as Colorado took a 35-16 lead.

The Utes rallied late, with a 3-yard touchdown reception by Lohner and a nifty, tackle-eligible two-point conversion play to Spencer Fano that cut the Colorado lead to 35-24.

On the Buff’s next possession, Utah recovered a fumble. But McKinney’s interception thwarted the next Utah drive which set up Offerdahl’s 4-yard touchdown scamper for a 41-24 lead.

With under three minutes to play, Hunter took a double reverse into the end zone for a 5-yard rushing touchdown and a 49-24 Colorado lead.

-Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes cornerback Smith Snowden (2) trips up Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Darius Lassiter (5) during the first quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

No. 9 BYU rallies past Utah on clutch field goal

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Will Ferrin kicked three field goals, the final one from 44 yards out with three seconds left, as No. 9 BYU rallied to beat Utah 22-21 on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.

Jake Retzlaff threw for 219 yards to lead the Cougars. LJ Martin added 68 rushing yards. BYU (9-0, 6-0 Big 12) did not score an offensive touchdown until 12:35 remained in the fourth quarter.

Brandon Rose threw for 112 yards and two touchdowns and added 55 yards on the ground in his first career start for the Utes.

Micah Bernard rushed for 78 yards in the loss. Dorian Singer added 76 receiving yards on five catches. Utah (4-5, 1-5) has lost five straight games for the first time since 2013.

After trailing by 11 points at halftime, BYU drew within 21-19 on Retzlaff’s 1-yard scoring run to cap a nine-play, 95-yard drive early in the fourth quarter. Cameron Calhoun picked off a two-point conversion pass from Retzlaff to keep the Cougars from tying the score.

Later in the quarter, BYU got the ball back at its own 9 with 1:56 left. Utah sacked Retzlaff near the goal line on fourth down but got called for a defensive holding penalty. Retzlaff completed a 30-yard pass to Chase Roberts on second-and-10. A 12-yard catch by Darius Lassiter and a 14-yard run by Hinckley Ropati helped set up Ferrin’s game-winning field goal.

BYU struck first, going up 3-0 on a 23-yard field goal from Ferrin. Jakob Robinson’s interception at the BYU 38 set up the scoring drive. Utah answered early in the second quarter, taking a 7-3 lead on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Rose to Brant Kuithe.

The Cougars regained the lead at 10-7 when Keelan Marion returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. It was Marion’s second kickoff returned for a touchdown this season. He also scored on a 100-yard return at Wyoming.

Utah answered with two touchdown runs to go up 21-10 before halftime. Kuithe trotted in from a yard out to put the Utes back in front. Bernard stretched for the pylon at the end of a 7-yard run and made it a two-score lead on Utah’s ensuing drive.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes wide receiver Money Parks (10) celebrates a touchdown against the TCU Horned Frogs with tight end Brant Kuithe (80) during the third quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Utah looks to get back on track against Houston

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Preseason Big 12 favorite Utah will have a new offensive coordinator calling plays as it looks to get back on track at Houston on Saturday in the teams’ first meeting since 1978.

The Utes (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) carry a three-game losing streak that’s seen them plummet in the league. The latest setback was a 13-7 loss at home to TCU last week. Utah, with true freshman Isaac Wilson at quarterback, gained just 267 yards, never reached the red zone, and either punted or turned the ball over on downs on 13 of their 14 drives.

That performance, and the Utes’ overall offensive struggles, cost longtime offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig his job. Utah announced Sunday evening that Ludwig had stepped down, with his position filled in the interim by Mike Bajakian.

Bajakian is in his first year as an offensive analyst after a stint as offensive coordinator for Northwestern from 2020-23.

“The system is the system — there will obviously be tweaks but we’ll address those as they come,” Bajakian said. “We’re going to emphasize doing the little things, from our effort to our physicality, to trying to change things with our passion and energy.”

The Cougars (2-5, 1-3) head home after a 42-14 dismantling by host Kansas last week. Donovan Smith entered the game in the second quarter after starting quarterback Zeon Chriss suffered a quad injury and passed for 173 yards and two TDs. But Smith was also picked off three times.

Smith, who’s been battling a balky throwing shoulder, is expected to start Saturday, with Chriss available in an emergency role. Wide receiver Mekhi Mews produced a breakout performance in the loss to Kansas, setting career highs in receiving yards (99) and receptions (six).

Houston has been outscored 115-44 in its four Big 12 games and is searching for an identity on offense.

“Everybody’s frustrated a little bit, and there’s things we can get better at,” Cougars coach Willie Fritz said. “I’ve told the players on numerous occasions: We got to play well if we are gonna win. We just got to play well all three phases.”

Saturday’s game will be the Cougars’ first at home since Sept. 28. Houston is 4-0 in its previous four meetings with the Utes.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver JP Richardson (7) is knocked out of bounds by Utah Utes cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn (5) during the first quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

TCU’s defense forces 11 punts in 13-7 win over Utah

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Josh Hoover passed for 263 yards and rushed for a touchdown to help TCU post a 13-7 victory over Utah in Big 12 play on Saturday night at Salt Lake City.

Savion Williams rushed for 72 yards on seven carries as the Horned Frogs (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) won for just the second time in their past five games.

Bud Clark notched a key interception and Devean Deal had two sacks for TCU. Hoover completed 22 of 41 passes.

Isaac Wilson connected on 17 of 33 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Utes (4-3, 1-3). Money Parks had a touchdown reception for Utah, which dropped its third straight game.

Wilson made his fourth start of the season. He is now the full-time starter after Cameron Rising sustained a season-ending right lower-leg injury on Oct. 11 against Arizona State.

The Utes were just 2 of 15 on third-down conversions, failed to convert on fourth down twice and punted on 11 of their 14 possessions.

TCU was just 4 of 17 on third-down conversions while holding a 395-267 advantage in total yards.

Utah punted on each of its first nine possessions and trailed 13-0 before striking with a big play just past the midway point of the third quarter.

Parks ran a post pattern and Wilson delivered the pass on the money. Parks caught it at the TCU 25-yard line and finished off a 71-yard scoring play to bring the Utes within 13-7.

The Utes crept past midfield twice in the fourth quarter before failing to convert on fourth down each time.

First, Utah had fourth-and-2 on at the Horned Frogs’ 48-yard line, but Wilson’s deep throw was intercepted by Clark with 6:58 left.

The next time the Utes had possession, they were facing fourth-and-5 from the TCU 43. Wilson again threw deep, but the pass intended for Brant Kuithe fell incomplete and the Horned Frogs took over with 2:35 remaining.

TCU faced its own fourth-and-1 with 2:17 left. Williams took a direct snap and gained 2 yards to the Utah 46 for the first down, and the Horned Frogs ran out the clock.

TCU outgained Utah 242-86 in the first half while building a 10-0 lead.

Kyle Lemmermann kicked a 23-yard field goal with 13:29 left in the second quarter for the first points of the game. Hoover’s 1-yard keeper increased the lead to 10 with seven minutes remaining in the half.

Lemmermann booted a 28-yard field goal to make it 13-0 with 9:32 to go in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) drops back to throw the ball against the Baylor Bears during the first quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Report: QB Cam Rising (hand) game-time decision for No. 12 Utah

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After he was limited in practice this week with a hand injury, quarterback Cam Rising is a game-time decision Saturday when No. 12 Utah faces No. 14 Oklahoma State at Stillwater, Okla., ESPN reported.

According to the report, Rising is expected to play despite residual hand soreness.

Rising was injured Sept. 7 during the Utes’ 23-12 home victory against Baylor, with Isaac Wilson playing quarterback in a 38-21 victory over Utah State last weekend.

In two games this season, Rising is 18-of-29 passing (62.1 percent) for 346 yards and seven touchdowns, with five of those in a season-opening victory against Southern Utah. He also has 46 yards rushing on six carries.

Rising, 25, is in his seventh college football season, He originally enrolled at Texas in 2018, transferred to Utah in 2019 and played one game for the Utes in 2020. He had a knee injury in the Rose Bowl following the 2022 season and missed the entire 2023 campaign.

In 29 games over four seasons on the field for Utah, Rising has completed 64.0 percent of his passes for 5,918 yards, 53 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Jul 9, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah quarterback Cameron Rising speaks to the media during the Big 12 Media Days at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Cameron Rising, No. 12 Utah set sights on Southern Utah

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cameron Rising’s misfortune became good fortune for No. 12 Utah, giving the Utes an experienced, elite quarterback for its debut season in the Big 12.

Rising will step on the field for the first time in 606 days on Thursday night when host Utah opens the season against FCS program Southern Utah at Salt Lake City.

It will be the seventh college season for the 25-year-old Rising, who is back after tearing multiple ligaments in his knee during a loss to Penn State in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, 2023.

Rising indicated after Monday’s practice that it has been a long wait.

“Getting back on the field,” Rising told reporters of what he’s looking forward to the most. “Honestly, just that first snap, that first time saying ‘set, go’ and getting the ball.”

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Rising looks in good form. He said the use of quarterback keepers will be diminished to protect Rising’s knee.

“Physically he looks the same,” Whittingham said Monday. “He’s going to be very judicious with running the ball. Very little QB run game. Right now, he’s functioning as well as he ever has. The arm strength is back. No limitations for him.”

Rising passed for 20 touchdowns in 2021 and 26 in 2022. He ran for six scores in each of those seasons.

Rising ranks sixth in Utah history with 46 career touchdown passes — one behind 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Alex Smith. Scott Mitchell (1987-89) holds the school mark of 69 passing scores.

Last season, the Utes combined for just 15 touchdowns passes while going 8-5. Utah averaged just 23.2 points per game with a low of six points and two other seven-point showings.

Rising isn’t the only seventh-year standout making a comeback. Tight end Brant Kuithe will be on the field for the first time in 706 days after tearing the ACL and the meniscus in his knee against Arizona State on Sept. 24, 2022.

“It’s been a long fall camp but I’ve knocked off the rust,” Kuithe said.

Kuithe is eighth in school history with 148 career receptions. The catches and career yardage (1,882) are the most by active FBS tight ends.

On the defensive side, Junior Tafuna will start his 37th consecutive game. The defensive tackle has seven career sacks.

Southern Utah won its final four games of last season to finish 6-5. The Thunderbirds opened last season with losses at Arizona State (24-21) and BYU (41-16).

They receive another test Thursday against a Utah squad that has won 31 of its past 33 home games.

Southern Utah hasn’t announced a starting quarterback and coach DeLane Fitzgerald said he will use two against the Utes.

Bronson Barrow is expected to be one of the quarterbacks. He threw 36 touchdown passes in three seasons (2020-22) at Weber State and was a backup at Western Kentucky last season.

Missouri State transfer Jordan Pachot and Jackson Berry also are in the mix.

“It’s been a lot of fun watching the young men compete for the spot,” Fitzgerald said Monday. “They have supported each other and cheered each other on throughout the process, and that has been great to see.”

The Thunderbirds feature two veteran running backs in Braedon Wissler (686 yards, five touchdowns in 2023) and Targhee Lambson (483 yards, six scores). Lambson also had two receiving scores and Wissler added one.

This is the third meeting between the teams. The Utes blanked Southern Utah 24-0 in 2016 and annihilated the Thunderbirds 73-7 in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Nov 18, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Utah Utes running back Ja'Quinden Jackson (3) is tackled by Arizona Wildcats defensive lineman Bill Norton (45) and linebacker Jacob Manu (5) during the first half at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports

No. 17 Arizona starts fast, defeats No. 22 Utah

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No. 17 Arizona raced to an early 28-0 lead, including scoring on a blocked punt return, and the Wildcats won their fifth consecutive game by beating No. 22 Utah 42-18 on Saturday in Tucson, Ariz.

Arizona (8-3, 6-2 Pac-12) kept alive hopes of reaching the conference championship game by defeating its fourth ranked team during its winning streak, which is the school’s longest since starting the 2014 season with five consecutive wins.

Noah Fifita passed for 253 yards and two touchdowns for the Wildcats, who led Utah (7-4, 4-4) by four touchdowns one play into the second quarter. But the Utes, playing without three key defenders, battled to within 28-10 before Arizona’s Treydan Stukes intercepted a pass from Bryson Barnes with 11:22 left.

Arizona responded with a 61-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Jonah Coleman, to make it 35-10 with 7:57 left in regulation to help seal the outcome.

Utah did add a touchdown and two-point conversion in the final minute. Arizona decided it wasn’t done yet, as backup Jayden de Laura threw deep and completed a 51-yard touchdown pass to Tetairoa McMillan with 32 seconds remaining.

Fifita completed 22 of 30 passes with no interceptions. Coleman ran for 90 yards on 14 carries.

Barnes was 31 of 53 for 320 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Three of Utah’s top five tacklers did not play due to injury — linebacker Karene Reid (54 tackles), safety Cole Bishop (53) and defensive end Jonah Elliss (37 tackles, 16 for loss, 12 sacks).

The Wildcats secured their first eight-win season since going 10-4 in 2014.

Arizona struck on the opening possession on a trick play. McMillan took a lateral to the left and threw a long pass to the back right corner of the end zone for a 21-yard score to wide-open Michael Wiley.

After the Wildcats forced a three-and-out, Anthony Ward blocked a punt and returned it 2 yards to the end zone to put Arizona up 14-0.

Fifita completed touchdown passes of 32 yards to Montana Lemonious-Craig in the first quarter and 31 yards to Wiley on the first play of the second quarter to give Arizona a 28-0 lead.

The score remained the same through a rainy second quarter until Utah broke through with a 92-yard drive, capped by Barnes’ 20-yard TD pass to Devaughn Vele with 52 seconds to go before halftime.

–Field Level Media