Utah Utes Suffer Seventh Consecutive Loss Against Iowa State

On Saturday, the Utah Utes endured their seventh consecutive defeat, falling to Iowa State at Rice-Eccles Stadium. This setback has assured Utah of its first losing season since 2013, marking one of the most disappointing campaigns in recent history for the program.

The match saw Utah, despite being severely outgained on offense by 405-224, taking a surprising four-point lead with just under six minutes left in the game. Fifth-string quarterback Luke Bottari, dubbed the «Bottari Ferrari,» initiated a 91-yard drive showcasing his running prowess, pushing the Utes to a 28-24 lead.

Micah Bernard, Utah’s running back, set the tone for the drive with a 12-yard run. Bottari capitalized on the momentum with a crucial 40-yard run to enter the red zone, eventually culminating with Bernard scoring to give Utah the lead. However, their defense faltered, allowing Iowa State to cover 75 yards to retake a 31-28 lead.

Utah’s coach, Kyle Whittingham, praised Iowa State’s quarterback, Rocco Becht, explaining, «He’s a really good quarterback… his efficiency rate, he’s like third in the league, so he’s a veteran that does a great job for them.» Utah’s cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn nearly intercepted a pass, but Iowa State capitalized on regained possession for a decisive touchdown.

With time running out, Bottari led Utah downfield, completing key passes, but a penalty for intentional grounding thwarted their progress and culminated in a missed 54-yard field goal attempt by kicker Cole Becker. «Cole hit it pretty decently, just a little bit wide and right,» Whittingham reflected on the missed opportunity.

Despite offensive struggles, the Utes received crucial contributions from their defense and special teams. Lander Barton‘s 87-yard interception return gave Utah an early touchdown. Meanwhile, special teams capitalized with a blocked punt recovery in the end zone, offering a faint hope of comeback.

The loss finalized Utah’s exclusion from post-season play under Whittingham’s leadership, a rarity outside of the disrupted 2020 season. The Utes (4-7) will conclude their challenging season against UCF on Black Friday in Orlando, Florida.