Coming off a thrilling victory over USC at the Coliseum last weekend, the Utah football team played host to ESPN’s College GameDay this week, before a much-anticipated battle against Oregon with Pac-12 implications on the line.
Turns out, the considerable build-up wound up being the highlight of the weekend.
Unable to get much going on either side of the ball, the 13th-ranked Utes were dominated by the No. 8-ranked Ducks, falling 35-6.
GameDay analyst Desmond Howard predicted ahead of time this was not a game in which the outcome would be settled by the second or third quarter.
Turns out, he was wrong.
Utah trailed 21-6 at halftime and saw two more touchdowns added to their deficit midway through the third quarter, sending thousands of fans streaming to the exits.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Coach Kyle Whittingham as the Utah Utes host the Oregon Ducks, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.
The Utes’ usually-stellar defense struggled early for the second consecutive week, as the Ducks managed touchdowns on three of their first four drives. They never did really manage to figure out quarterback Bo Nix (24 of 31 for 248 yards) or running back Bucky Irving (83 tough yards on 14 carries).
Meanwhile, not even Sione Vaki’s presence could spark Utah’s offense on this occasion.
He rushed just five times for 11 yards — symptomatic of a ground game that struggled all afternoon, as the Utes totaled 99 rushing yards on 36 attempts.
The passing attack was not much better.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes wide receiver Emery Simmons (18) warms up on the field as the Utah Utes host the Oregon Ducks, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.
While quarterback Bryson Barnes had a consistent connection with wideout Devaughn Vele (seven catches for 80 yards), no one else really got going in the throw game.
Barnes finished 15 of 29 for 136 yards passing, but had two costly interceptions that all but ended whatever meager comeback hopes the team had.
Utah is now 6-2 on the season overall, and 3-2 in Pac-12 play.
Utes get within 21-6 at halftime
For the first time all afternoon, the Utah offense showed some urgency and efficiency.
It still only resulted in a field goal.
After forcing a rare three-and-out, the Utes got the ball back with 1:33 remaining before the break. They methodically covered 53 yards in 10 plays, but a jailbreak pass rush by Oregon forced Barnes to roll out, eat up valuable seconds off the clock, and then ultimately have to throw it away anyway.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah takes to the field as the Utah Utes host the Oregon Ducks, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.
With just 5 seconds remaining and fearful of time expiring if they ran another play, the Utes opted instead to just kick the 30-yard field goal.
Cole Becker’s kick drew Utah to within 21-6 at the break.
After Utes’ turnover, it’s 21-3 for Ducks
Utah was trying to get the ball in the hands of its one consistent offensive playmaker.
But Vaki and Barnes were not on the same page — the wildcat running out, the QB throwing in, and the first play of the second quarter became a disastrous interception.
Five plays later, on first and goal from Utah’s 3, Oregon’s Bo Nix sidestepped the pass rush and found Troy Franklin all alone in the back of the end zone.
The Rice-Eccles faithful are in shock, as the Ducks now hold a 21-3 lead.
Ducks lead 14-3 after first quarter
Nix is 9 of 10 passing for 122 yards.
The one incompletion was a dropped bomb that should’ve been a touchdown.
No matter, the Oregon QB got the Ducks in the end zone a handful of plays later, calling an audible at the line of scrimmage that had Utah’s defense discombobulated, and which resulted in Jordan James being uncovered and untouched on an 18-yard TD pass.
It’s 14-3 Ducks after the first 15 minutes.
Utes force a turnover, get within 7-3
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Coach Kyle Whittingham on the sidelines as the Utah Utes host the Oregon Ducks, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, with a tough defeat 35-6.
Utah had a nice first drive that stalled at Oregon’s 25-yard line after Barnes couldn’t convert a fourth-and-1 from the shotgun.
One play later, star defensive tackle Junior Tafuna gave them another chance.
His forced fumble and recovery set Utah up nicely at the Oregon 27 … but they could only traverse 14 yards before bogging down again.
Cole Becker got them on the board, drilling a 32-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 3:45 remaining in the opening period.
Ducks strike fast, take 7-0 lead
Utah won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, choosing to open with their defense against Oregon’s offense.
It did not go the way they hoped.
The Ducks needed less than 3 minutes to go 75 yards and into the end zone.
Nix was 4 for 4 for 58 yards, Irving rushed it once for 16 yards, then Nix took it in from half a yard out.
And just like that, it was 7-0 Ducks, with 12:18 left in the opening quarter.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Bryson Barnes (16) is taken down as the Utah Utes host the Oregon Ducks, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.
