Utah’s losing streak continues.
And its bowl hopes are no more.
The Utes fell 31-28 to No. 22 Iowa State on Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium. With a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, senior kicker Cole Becker pushed a 54-yard field goal wide right.
The loss extended the U.‘s losing streak to seven games, the worst stretch of Kyle Whittingham’s head coaching career.
Iowa State improved to 9-2, and moved into a four-way tie atop the Big 12 Conference. Utah, meanwhile, dropped to 4-6 overall and 1-6 in conference play. With just one game remaining on the schedule, the Utes will not qualify for a bowl game.
Freshman quarterback Isaac Wilson finished the night with 74 passing yards. He was injured late in the third quarter after scrambling outside of the pocket and rolling up his left leg.
Wilson did not return and was replaced by senior quarterback Luke Bottari, who finished with 55 passing yards and 47 yards on the ground. Bottari led the Utes on a fourth-quarter touchdown drive that gave Utah a lead in the final frame.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Isaac Wilson (11) looks to pass as he avoids a tackle from Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Jack Sadowsky V (33) during the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.
But Iowa State answered with a quick score of its own to reclaim the lead.
The Utes rushing attack struggled once again, garnering 95 rushing yards on 28 carries.
Despite the struggles on offense, Utah got off to a fast start in the first quarter.
Isaac Wilson found redshirt freshman wide receiver Daidren Zipperer for a 46-yard gain. The Utes couldn’t convert in the red zone after that, so they settled for a 34-yard field goal.
The very next drive Iowa State took a 7-3 lead following a seven-yard touchdown throw to Jayden Higgins.
Junior linebacker Lander Barton responded with an 87-yard pick-six in the second quarter, which gave Utah a 10-7 lead with 11:53 remaining until halftime.
Utah added one more field goal before the break. But Iowa State went on to score one touchdown and a field goal before the half to take a 17-13 lead.
After a scoreless third quarter, Becht advanced Iowa State’s lead to 11 points with a quarterback sneak on 4th-and-goal. The Cyclones led 24-13 to end the third period.
The Utes found life, however, after they blocked an ISU punt and freshman wide receiver David Washington recovered it for a touchdown. With the recovery, Utah forced its third turnover of the game and brought the game back to a 24-21 margin. for
Next, the Utes will hit the road for their final regular season contest against UCF at 6 p.m. MT on Friday, Nov. 29 in Orlando, Florida.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Isaiah Alston (8) catches the ball as Utah Utes cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn (5) defends during the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.
