The 2020 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Utes were led by 16th-year head coach Kyle Whittingham and played their home games at Rice–Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, as members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference.
On August 11, 2020, the Pac-12 suspended all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] On September 24, the Pac-12 announced that football teams would return to play a seven-game conference-only season beginning on November 6, with the conference championship game scheduled for December 18.[3]
On December 18, with a 2–2 record and one game left to play, the Utes announced that they would not pursue a bid to a bowl game.[4] The Utes won their final game, finishing their season with a 3–2 record. Running back Ty Jordan was voted the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.[5]
Schedule
Utah had games scheduled against BYU, Montana State, and Wyoming, but canceled these games on July 10 due to the Pac-12 Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
On November 24, Utah's scheduled game at Arizona State for November 29 was canceled after a COVID-19 outbreak within the Arizona State program.[7] The Pac-12 then announced that Utah would instead play at Washington on November 28;[8] the Huskies' scheduled game at Washington State had also been canceled after Washington State had a COVID-19 outbreak.[9]
Original 2020 Utah Utes schedule
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Site
|
September 3 |
BYU* |
Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT (Holy War)
|
September 12 |
Montana State* |
Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
|
September 19 |
at Wyoming* |
War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WY
|
September 26 |
at California |
California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA
|
October 2 |
USC |
Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
|
October 10 |
at Washington State |
Martin Stadium • Pullman, WA
|
October 17 |
Washington |
Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
|
October 29 |
at UCLA |
Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA
|
November 7 |
Arizona |
Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
|
November 14 |
Oregon State |
Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
|
November 21 |
at Arizona State |
Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ
|
November 28 |
at Colorado |
Folsom Field • Boulder, CO (Rumble in the Rockies)
|
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
November 7 | 1:30 p.m. | Arizona | | | ESPN2 | No Contest[10] |
|
November 14 | 8:30 p.m. | at UCLA | | | FOX | No Contest[11] |
|
November 21 | 8:30 p.m. | No. 20 USC | | - Rice–Eccles Stadium
- Salt Lake City, UT
| ESPN | L 17–33 | 0
|
November 28 | 5:30 p.m. | at Washington | | | ABC | L 21–24 | 259
|
December 5 | 8:30 p.m. | Oregon State | | - Rice–Eccles Stadium
- Salt Lake City, UT
| ESPN | W 30–24 | 0
|
December 12 | 10:00 a.m. | at No. 21 Colorado | | | FOX | W 38–21 | 0
|
December 19 | 11:30 a.m. | Washington State | | - Rice–Eccles Stadium
- Salt Lake City, UT
| FS1 | W 45–28 | 0
|
|
[12]
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes | Week |
---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
---|
AP | 22 | 22* | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — |
---|
Coaches | 20 | 20* | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV |
---|
CFP | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |
---|
Personnel
Game summaries
No. 20 USC
Game information
|
First quarter
- UTAH – Jadon Redding 36-yard field goal, 9:07. Utes 3–0. Drive: 7 plays, 42 yards, 3:06.
- USC – Parker Lewis 35-yard field goal, 5:17. Tied 3–3. Drive: 11 plays, 63 yards, 3:50.
Second quarter
- USC – Vavae Malepeai 2-yard run (Parker Lewis kick), 14:04. Trojans 10–3. Drive: 2 plays, 4 yards, 0:41
- UTAH – Nephi Sewell 23-yard fumble return (Jadon Redding kick), 11:53. Tied 10–10.
- USC – Tyler Vaughns 8-yard pass from Kedon Slovis (Parker Lewis kick), 9:28. Trojans 17–10. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:25.
- USC – Erik Krommenhoek 10-yard pass from Kedon Slovis (Parker Lewis kick), 5:45. Trojans 24–10. Drive: 4 plays, 40 yards, 1:29.
- UTAH – Samson Nacua 7-yard pass from Jake Bentley (Jadon Redding kick), 0:49. Trojans 24–17. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:56.
Third quarter
- USC – Parker Lewis 24-yard field goal, 9:32. Trojans 27–17. Drive: 11 plays, 74 yards, 5:28.
- USC – Parker Lewis 43-yard field goal, 4:47. Trojans 30–17. Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, 3:56.
Fourth quarter
- USC – Parker Lewis 47-yard field goal, 1:03. Trojans 33–17. Drive: 4 plays, -3 yards, 0:26.
|
Statistics |
USC |
UTAH
|
First downs |
17 |
17
|
Total yards |
357 |
327
|
Rushing yards |
93 |
111
|
Passing yards |
264 |
216
|
Turnovers |
2 |
5
|
Time of possession |
30:41 |
29:19
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
USC |
Passing |
Kedon Slovis |
24/35, 264 yards, 2 TD, INT
|
Rushing |
Vavae Malepeai |
20 rushes, 62 yards, TD
|
Receiving |
Bru McCoy |
5 receptions, 66 yards
|
Utah |
Passing |
Jake Bentley |
16/28, 171 yards, TD, 2 INT
|
Rushing |
Ty Jordan |
7 rushes, 32 yards
|
Receiving |
Bryan Thompson |
2 receptions, 48 yards
|
At Washington
Game information
|
First quarter
- UTAH – Jake Bentley 7-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 2:18. Utes 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 48 yards, 5:40.
Second quarter
- UTAH – Devin Brumfield 2-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 7:55. Utes 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 59 yards, 2:30.
- UTAH – Bryan Thompson 13-yard pass from Jake Bentley (Jadon Redding kick), 0:42. Utes 21–0. Drive: 8 plays, 78 yards, 3:09.
Third quarter
- WASH – Kamari Pleasant 2-yard run (Peyton Henry kick), 12:01. Utes 21–7. Drive: 6 plays, 72 yards, 2:59.
- WASH – Peyton Henry 26-yard field goal, 7:21. Utes 21–10. Drive: 7 plays, 19 yards, 2:41.
- WASH – Cade Otton 21-yard pass from Dylan Morris (Peyton Henry kick), 2:49. Utes 21–17. Drive: 3 plays, 58 yards, 1:06.
Fourth quarter
- WASH – Cade Otton 16-yard pass from Dylan Morris (Peyton Henry kick), 0:36. Huskies 24–21. Drive: 12 plays, 88 yards, 3:55.
|
Statistics |
UTAH |
WASH
|
First downs |
19 |
20
|
Total yards |
359 |
360
|
Rushing yards |
215 |
88
|
Passing yards |
144 |
272
|
Turnovers |
4 |
3
|
Time of possession |
34:24 |
25:36
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Utah |
Passing |
Jake Bentley |
16/23, 144 yards, TD, 2 INT
|
Rushing |
Ty Jordan |
10 rushes, 97 yards
|
Receiving |
Bryan Thompson |
3 receptions, 65 yards, TD
|
Washington |
Passing |
Dylan Morris |
23/38, 272 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
|
Rushing |
Sean McGrew |
7 rushes, 36 yards
|
Receiving |
Cade Otton |
8 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD
|
Oregon State
Oregon State Beavers at Utah Utes – Game summary
at Rice–Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Date: December 5, 2020
- Game time: 8:30 p.m. MST
- Game weather: Clear, 30 °F (−1 °C)
- Game attendance: 0
- Referee: Mike McCabe
- TV: ESPN
- Box score, Recap
Game information
|
- First quarter
- UTAH – Jadon Redding 33-yard field goal, 10:21. Utes 3–0. Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 4:39.
- UTAH – Jadon Redding 20-yard field goal, 6:50. Utes 6–0. Drive: 4 plays, 8 yards, 1:31.
- Second quarter
- UTAH – Jadon Redding 27-yard field goal, 12:27. Utes 9–0. Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 5:12.
- ORST – Everett Hayes 33-yard field goal, 9:16. Utes 9–3. Drive: 7 plays, 54 yards, 3:05.
- UTAH – Ty Jordan 1-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 3:10. Utes 16–3. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 6:06.
- ORST – Calvin Tyler Jr. 1-yard run (Everett Hayes kick), 0:50. Utes 16–10. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 2:20.
- Third quarter
- UTAH – Britain Covey 8-yard pass from Jake Bentley (Jadon Redding kick), 6:22. Utes 23–10. Drive: 14 plays, 89 yards, 7:45.
- Fourth quarter
- UTAH – Britain Covey 64-yard punt return (Jadon Redding kick), 14:37. Utes 30–10.
- ORST – Calvin Tyler Jr. 6-yard run (Everett Hayes kick), 11:50. Utes 30–17. Drive: 8 plays, 65 yards, 2:41.
- ORST – Kolby Taylor 21-yard pass from Chance Nolan (Everett Hayes kick), 5:07. Utes 30–24. Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 2:11.
|
Statistics |
ORST |
UTAH
|
First downs |
22 |
21
|
Total yards |
335 |
403
|
Rushing yards |
133 |
229
|
Passing yards |
202 |
174
|
Turnovers |
1 |
0
|
Time of possession |
24:15 |
35:45
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Oregon State |
Passing |
Chance Nolan |
20/38, 202 yards, TD, INT
|
Rushing |
Jack Colletto |
1 rush, 40 yards
|
Receiving |
Tyjon Lindsey |
3 receptions, 37 yards
|
Utah |
Passing |
Jack Bentley |
18/27, 174 yards, TD
|
Rushing |
Ty Jordan |
27 rushes, 167 yards, TD
|
Receiving |
Brant Kuithe |
8 receptions, 76 yards
|
At No. 21 Colorado
Game information
|
First quarter
- UTAH – Solomon Enis 7-yard pass from Jack Bentley (Jadon Redding kick), 12:03. Utes 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 60 yards, 2:57.
Second quarter
- COLO – Maurice Bell 21-yard pass from Sam Noyer (Evan Price kick), 12:46. Tied 7–7. Drive: 11 plays, 90 yards, 3:33.
- COLO – Brenden Rice 81-yard punt return (Evan Price kick), 1:30. Buffaloes 14–7.
- UTAH – Jadon Redding 42-yard field goal, 0:00. Buffaloes 14–10. Drive: 3 plays, 15 yards, 0:13.
Third quarter
- COLO – Brenden Rice 61-yard pass from Sam Noyer (Evan Price kick), 14:39. Buffaloes 21–10. Drive: 1 play, 61 yards, 0:11.
- UTAH – Ty Jordan 18-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 13:14. Buffaloes 21–17. Drive: 3 plays, 60 yards, 1:25.
- UTAH – Britain Covey 20-yard pass from Jack Bentley (Jadon Redding kick), 6:23. Utes 24–21. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:28.
Fourth quarter
- UTAH – Jadon Redding 43-yard field goal, 9:19. Utes 27–21. Drive: 7 plays, 28 yards, 3:49.
- UTAH – Ty Jordan 66-yard run (Jack Bentley pass to Dalton Kincaid), 4:43. Utes 35–21. Drive: 1 play, 66 yards, 0:11.
- UTAH – Jadon Redding 38-yard field goal, 2:24. Utes 38–21. Drive: 4 plays, -2 yards, 1:52.
|
Statistics |
UTAH |
COLO
|
First downs |
22 |
15
|
Total yards |
432 |
377
|
Rushing yards |
192 |
110
|
Passing yards |
240 |
267
|
Turnovers |
1 |
3
|
Time of possession |
36:11 |
23:49
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Utah |
Passing |
Jack Bentley |
20/32, 240 yards, 2 TD, INT
|
Rushing |
Ty Jordan |
17 rushes, 147 yards, 2 TD
|
Receiving |
Britain Covey |
9 receptions, 76 yards, TD
|
Colorado |
Passing |
Sam Noyer |
16/34, 258 yards, 2 TD, INT
|
Rushing |
Jarek Broussard |
14 rushes, 80 yards
|
Receiving |
Brenden Rice |
1 reception, 61 yards, TD
|
Washington State
Washington State Cougars at Utah Utes – Game summary
at Rice–Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Date: December 19
- Game time: 11:30 a.m. MST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 38 °F (3 °C)
- Game attendance: 0
- Referee: Mark Duddy
- TV: FS1
- Box score, Recap
Game information
|
First quarter
- WSU – Max Borghi 8-yard run (Blake Mazza kick), 4:34. Cougars 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 57 yards, 4:26.
Second quarter
- WSU – Deon McIntosh 11-yard run (Blake Mazza kick), 8:31. Cougars 14–0. Drive: 7 plays, 88 yards, 4:01.
- UTAH – Britain Covey 91-yard pass from Jake Bentley (Jadon Redding kick), 3:37. Cougars 14–7. Drive: 3 plays, 95 yards, 0:58.
- WSU – Jamire Calvin 8-yard pass from Jayden de Laura (Blake Mazza kick), 1:51. Cougars 21–7. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:46.
- WSU – Jayden de Laura 3-yard run (Blake Mazza kick), 1:21. Cougars 28–7. Drive: 1 play, 3 yards, 0:04.
Third quarter
- UTAH – Ty Jordan 5-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 6:09. Cougars 28–14. Drive: 9 plays, 81 yards, 4:39.
- UTAH – Bryan Thompson 9-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 0:55. Cougars 28–21. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:38.
Fourth quarter
- UTAH – Ty Jordan 33-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 12:01. Tied 28–28. Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 2:15.
- UTAH – Ty Jordan 13-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 6:29. Utes 35–28. Drive: 2 plays, 13 yards, 0:12.
- UTAH – Jadon Redding 44-yard field goal, 2:37. Utes 38–28. Drive: 7 plays, 30 yards, 3:37.
- UTAH – Clark Phillips III 36-yard interception return (Jadon Redding kick), 2:06. Utes 45–28.
|
Statistics |
WSU |
UTAH
|
First downs |
17 |
23
|
Total yards |
396 |
528
|
Rushing yards |
115 |
223
|
Passing yards |
281 |
305
|
Turnovers |
4 |
3
|
Time of possession |
29:00 |
31:00
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Washington State |
Passing |
Jayden de Laura |
17/28, 204 yards, TD, INT
|
Rushing |
Max Borghi |
10 rushes, 95 yards, TD
|
Receiving |
Jamire Calvin |
7 receptions, 104 yards, TD
|
Utah |
Passing |
Jack Bentley |
7/14, 153 yards, TD, INT
|
Rushing |
Ty Jordan |
22 rushes, 154 yards, 3 TD
|
Receiving |
Britain Covey |
6 receptions, 134 yards, TD
|
References
- ^ "Pac-12 announces resumption of football, basketball & winter sports seasons". Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ "Pac-12 Conference postpones all sport competitions through end of calendar year". pac-12.com. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ "Pac-12 announces resumption of football, basketball & winter sports seasons". pac-12.com. September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ Call, Jeff (December 18, 2020). "Utah Utes won't play in bowl game, season finale will be Saturday vs. Washington State". Deseret News. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Pac-12 Football All-Conference honors and annual awards announced". Pac-12 Conference. December 22, 2020. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ Bromberg, Nick (July 10, 2020). "Pac-12 follows Big Ten's lead and won't play non-conference games in 2020". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- ^ "Pac-12 statement on Utah at Arizona State football game". pac-12.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- ^ "Pac-12 statement on Utah at Washington football game". pac-12.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- ^ "Pac-12 statement on Washington at Washington State football game". pac-12.com. November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ "Statement on the Cancellation of Utah's Game Versus Arizona". utahutes.com. November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- ^ "Utah Football Game at UCLA is Cancelled". utahutes.com. November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Pac-12 Football Schedule". Twitter.com. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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National championship seasons in bold |