Despite Heartbreaking Loss to Huskies, Utah Showed it Can Compete With The Best

The No. 18 Utah Utes fell to the No.5 Washington Huskies in a 35-28 game that saw the Huskies prolong their undefeated, and potential College Football Playoff bound, season, while the Utes fell to 7-3 on the season.

The game’s first half was about as explosive as you’ll ever see. The Utes had 306 total yards of offense, led by quarterback Bryson Barnes’ steady pass attack. Barnes was on a heater as he threw for 238 passing and two touchdowns.

Utah receiver Devaughn Vele shouldered most of the first-half load with four catches for 122 yards. After a two-touchdown performance last week against Arizona State, Vele opened the game with a 41-yard reception on a drive that ended in a Ja’Quinden Jackson two-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game 7-7.

Jackson’s first-quarter touchdown kickstarted the offense and began what was a streak of four consecutive touchdown scoring drives for the Utes.

That streak was highlighted by a 53-yard Sione Vaki touchdown on a screen pass that initially looked like it was going nowhere. Instead, Vaki turned on the afterburners and cooked the Washington secondary to glide in for a score that put the Utes up 21-17.

Utah would add a final touchdown on their last drive of the second half. Set into motion by a 68-yard Bryson Barnes deep shot to Vele, Jackson capped off the drive with his second touchdown of the afternoon, a physically imposing, seven-yard bull rush for the score.

And just like that here comes @Utah_Football once again 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ObsvHQRDpI
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 11, 2023

All the while, Heisman frontrunner, Michael Penix Jr., and his Husky squad went step by step with the Utes, as the Utah defense couldn't stop Washington playmakers, Rome Odunze and Dillion Johnson. The Huskies managed to score 24 points to Utah’s 28 in the first half of play.

Utah seemingly used up all their tricks before halftime, as the offense sputtered in the second. After dropping a whopping 28 points prior, the Utes didn't score a single point after coming back from the locker room.

Penalties interrupted most of the team’s offensive rhythm. Utah ended the game with eight flags (for 97 yards), most of which came from defensive pass interferences and holding calls. Arguably the most disheartening of the bunch was an offensive pass interference call in the fourth quarter against tight-end Miki Suguturaga, that consequently killed the team’s drive.

The most entertaining play of the second half came on a third-quarter interception from Bryson Barnes. After throwing a ball that was intercepted by Washington linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala on the Washington 23-yard line, Tuputala pulled off his best Kaelin Clay impression and dropped the ball on the one-yard line before he could return it for a defensive touchdown.

HE DROPPED IT BEFORE CROSSING THE GOAL LINE?! 😱

UTAH GETS THE BALL BACK pic.twitter.com/AzhjizWAn4
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 11, 2023

The blunder ended up not mattering too much in the end, as Utah recovered the ball and then gave up a safety the very next play.

The Utes could never get their offense cooking, as Washington had no trouble and added 11 points to their first-half total of 24. Then again, Utah seemingly had a glimmer of hope at the end of the game, after Washington kicker Grady Gross shanked a field goal with 1:38 seconds left, but the Utes couldn't capitalize and ended the game with one final interception.

While the game most likely put the nail in the coffin, ending Utah’s hope for a third consecutive Pac-12 title, some may say the game did have a silver lining.

If nothing else, Utah’s performance against Washington was the epitome of what the Utah football program is all about. Against a Washington team filled to the brim with future NFL talent, Utah stood their ground till the very end; And they did it the Kyle Whittingham way.

A casual fan may not see it when they look at the Utah roster from afar, but much of Utah’s success comes from the most unlikely sources. Both Bryson Barnes and Devaughn Vele were walk-ons for the team and are now showing out on the biggest of stages. Ja’Quinden Jackson and Sione Vaki are two converted position players, who dominate the running back position.

Kyle Whittingham and his staff have always been partial to moving and switching player positions based on fit, and in this game against Washington, Whittingham’s position-swapping wizardry was on full display.

Utah has shown time and time again that it is willing and ready to put playmakers on the field, regardless of their position or “stars” coming out of high school. College football has become a sport dominated by the notion that “stars matter,” an idea that four and five-star recruits are the only players able to make a difference on the gridiron.

While Utah would assuredly welcome those kinds of recruits with open arms, and the Utah recruiting class is getting better year by year, there is something special about the Utah team’s ability to hang with the best and develop in-house talent.

The Utes look to solidify their spot in a bowl game with a win next week when they play at Arizona on November 18th.