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Utah gets revenge over Florida, beats first SEC team to play at Rice-Eccles Stadium

Even without Cam Rising and Brant Kuithe, Utah looked in control during a season-opening win at home.

  | Sep. 1, 2023, 3:23 a.m.
| Updated: 4:36 a.m.

Kyle Whittingham didn’t come right out and say it this week, but he strongly alluded to his true feelings about last year’s Florida matchup.

“They played well, we didn’t,” Whittingham remembered. “Hopefully we play better this year.”

The underlying message was clear: Whittingham felt Utah was the better team in last year’s 29-26 barn burner of a loss in Gainesville. It was self-inflicted wounds — like 29 missed tackles and an untimely interception — that did them in.

A year later, Utah ensured it wouldn’t be the one to beat itself this time around. And even without quarterback Cam Rising and tight end Brant Kuithe, the Utes proved to be enough in a 24-11 win over Florida.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah players celebrate a touchdown by Utah Utes wide receiver Money Parks (10) as the Utah Utes host the Florida Gators, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah players celebrate a touchdown by Utah Utes wide receiver Money Parks (10) as the Utah Utes host the Florida Gators, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023.

“This team’s got a lot of grit,” Whittingham said. “Next man up mentality. Couldn’t be prouder of these guys.”

As Utah played a relatively clean game, it was Florida’s turn to make costly mistakes on a night it committed nine penalties, missed a field goal and turned the ball over.

The Utes held a two-touchdown lead for the entire second half.

Backup quarterback Bryson Barnes finished with 170 yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. Backup quarterback Nate Johnson chipped in a rushing touchdown and 45 yards on the ground.

“Bryson Barnes, Nate Johnson did what we needed them to do,” Whittingham said. “It wasn’t pretty at the end there; we kind of let them back in. But we got the victory. On to the next one.”

First quarter

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Quarterback Bryson Barnes (16) throws the ball for the Utes against Florida.

Whittingham has been saying it for two years now: He trusts Barnes in big spots.

And he made good on his word within the first two minutes of the season opener. Facing an aggressive coverage daring him to throw, Whittingham gave Barnes the opportunity to take a shot on the first play. It resulted in a 70-yard touchdown throw to Money Parks to give Utah an early 7-0.

Parks beat Florida safety Jason Marshall Jr. and narrowly escaped a stumbling RJ Moten. But it was a throw that instilled confidence that Utah’s offense could be just fine without Rising.

Second quarter

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) loses the ball after a hit from Utah Utes safety Cole Bishop (8).

Mistakes quickly undid the Gators as penalties and miscues stacked up.

With Florida opening the quarter inside the red zone, a delay of game and a false start stalled the drive. The added yardage would also hurt Florida on the scoreboard when a 31-yard field goal attempt went wide right.

And even though Florida was within four at the time, 7-3 would be as close as it would get the rest of the night. Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig used Johnson under center to spur a nearly eight-minute touchdown drive as an answer.

Florida had its chances to get off the field. It forced a third-down stop, but committed a penalty on the punt by having two players with the name number on the field at the same time.

It carried the theme of the night: Florida was sloppy and Utah took advantage.

Right before the half, the Utes squeezed in a 51-yard field goal to push the lead to 17-3. It was the first 50-plus-yard field goal Utah had attempted since 2021.

Third quarter

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes safety Sione Vaki (28) intercepts a Florida pass.

If things were somewhat manageable before the half, Florida could never get out of its own way long enough to put any serious pressure on Utah.

After an early stop, Florida quarterback Graham Metz threw into pressure and Utah came away with an interception. Sione Vaki grabbed a batted ball out of the air to give Utah’s offense the ball inside the 15-yard line.

Three plays later, Barnes was in the end zone with a rushing touchdown to give Utah a 24-3 lead.

And from there, Utah cruised with a comfortable advantage. Florida committed three more penalties and turned the ball over on down twice in desperation.

Fourth quarter

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah fans celebrate a second quarter touchdown.

Even after Florida’s first touchdown drive of the game, Utah’s defense did enough to keep a comfortable lead.

On Florida’s final chance, driving to cut the lead to a touchdown, Utah forced a turnover on downs. BYU transfer Logan Fano came up with a sack on the drive and Defensive lineman Jonah Elliss, a standout all night, tipped Mertz’s final pass of the night away. Utah had five sacks for 47 yards.