Boulder, Colo. • Kyle Whittingham is in uncharted territory.
For the first time in his 20-year head coaching career, the Ute head coach has lost six games in a row.
Since 2004, Whittingham’s Utes have established themselves as one of college football’s most consistent winners, including the highs of winning a pair of Pac-12 Championships. Now? Utah’s program is at its lowest point of the Whittingham era with its latest 49-24 loss to No. 17 Colorado.
“Right now, I’m in the ‘Twilight Zone,’” Whittingham said after Utah’s sixth straight loss. “It’s been the most difficult year of my coaching career, hands down.”
(David Zalubowski | AP) Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter, top center, flies in for a touchdown past, from left, Utah linebacker Johnathan Hall, cornerback Smith Snowden and safety Nate Ritchie in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Boulder, Colo.
Utah looks like a shell of the juggernaut Whittingham has built over the last two decades. The offense seems to have no identity and ranked second to last in the conference in total offense before Saturday’s contest. Injuries, including a pair of key season-enders to quarterbacks Cam Rising and Brandon Rose, have plagued the team for a second-straight season.
Whittingham’s close friend Andy Ludwig stepped down as the program’s offensive coordinator on Oct. 21. But that hasn’t provided a spark yet. The Utes head coach still pins a lot of the blame for the losses of this season on the offense.
“Our main issue this season has been on the offensive side of the ball,” Whittingham said Saturday. “There’s no secret about that. We’ve just got to keep recruiting players — that’s No. 1 — and try to get things solved.
“We’re just not potent enough on offense. If you look just statistically, as good as we are on defense, we’re that far down the ladder on offense in those statistical categories.”
Isaac Wilson struggles, again
The Utes are strapped into Isaac Wilson’s saddle for the rest of 2024. In spurts, he’s looked like someone who could lead the program into the future. Other times he’s held the ball too long, turned the ball over and been banged up, including this week where he was reportedly a game-time decision due to an illness.
“He practiced about half of the week,” Utah’s head coach said. “We didn’t know if he was going to be able to play up until last night. Then we got the indication that he was turning the corner and going to be able to function.”
In his sixth start, Wilson finished 21 of 40 with 236 passing yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He now has 11 picks on the season. The freshman quarterback has also struggled with holding onto the ball too long, which has resulted in him being sacked 16 times in all of the games he has started.
“We need to get the completion percentage up and the interceptions down,” Whittingham said.
Despite Wilson’s struggles, he did find a rhythm in the third and fourth quarter, where he threw two touchdown passes including a 40-yard bomb to senior wide receiver Dorian Singer, which was the receiver’s first score of the season.
“For us, everyone’s got to step up around Isaac,” Utes tight end Carsen Ryan said postgame. “He’s a great player, and when we all play great we elevate him. ... We just got to do our part to help him out the most we can since he’s still so young and has a bright future ahead. And we just got to keep making plays to make his load a little easier.”
For the time being, Utah’s quarterback future remains unclear. With Wilson’s play, one might hesitate to crown him as the future of the program. Still, Wilson is 19 years old and still has public support from both Whittingham and the players.
“He’s just a freshman,” Utah’s head coach said. “He’s learning as we go. He’s a guy that does not lack confidence. My guess is, as a resilient kid, he’ll come back and get ready for the next one.”
Still, Utah has the Rising question to answer before next season. The seventh-year quarterback, who has only played 2.5 games since 2022, is still mulling a potential return on an eighth-year of eligibility.
That could be with the Utes or it could be with another program via the transfer portal. Earlier this week, Whittingham said conversations with the quarterback were likely starting as early as this week.
But, Rising has been radio silent nor has he been seen on the sideline with the Utes.
What is clear, however, is that the Utes have a quarterback decision looming.
Bowl game hopes remain as a final driving force
(Rick Scuteri | AP) Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham watches the clock in the second half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State won 27-19.
Utah’s season is all but over.
The Big 12 preseason favorite is now in the cellar of the conference. A potential swan-song season for Whittingham has turned into a nightmare.
But the Utes say there’s still something left to play for. And, they’re right. A bowl game is still within reach, but the cards are now stacked against them.
“We’re trying to win,” Ryan said.
Junior linebacker Lander Barton added: “Trying to make a bowl game.”
As it stands, the Utes aren’t favored to win in either of their final remaining games. Iowa State is the third-ranked team in the entire Big 12. UCF, while also 4-6 on the season, has one of the best rushing attacks in the nation, which Utah has struggled to stop during its losing skid.
But, in the eyes of Whittingham, there’s still hope.
And, that’s all that might be left for this Utah team.
“As bad as things are,” Whittingham said, “(we’re) two games away from a bowl bid. So, that’s something right there.”
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