Utah Football’s Top Plays From Last Year In Pac-12 Conference
Dec 27, 2023, 3:33 PM
University of Utah football players celebrate their win over PAC-12 opponent Arizona State. (Credit: Megan Nielsen, Deseret News)
(Credit: Megan Nielsen, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Football and the “next man up” mindset only got the Utes so far in 2023 but that didn’t stop them from making some top plays for us to look back on.
Utah finished fifth in the Pac-12 with a record of 8-5.
One last ride. pic.twitter.com/9WQ9B5B1Yb
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) December 23, 2023
The Utes couldn’t seem to get away from the injury bug in 2023.
Cam Rising and Brant Kuithe both missed the entire season despite early hope for a return. Lander Barton, Mycah Pittman, Logan Fano, and a few others went down with injuries during the season.
On the bright side, Utah has time to return to full strength before it starts a new chapter in 2024 as a member of the Big 12 Conference.
Utah Utes Football Top Plays Of 2023
The highlights started early and came in bunches for the Utes.
On the first offensive play of the season, Bryson Barnes went for it all and found Money Parks who got behind the Florida defense.
Welcome to Utah.
📺 @espn https://t.co/raAzYdPdhI#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/4awbTRjLcH
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 1, 2023
In game one, the Utes rolled with both Barnes and Nate Johnson as the team waited for one of the quarterbacks to step up in Rising’s absence.
Both played well against the Gators. Johnson gave Utah a 14-3 lead with this scramble for six.
Utah goes up 14-3 on the Gators 👀 pic.twitter.com/moHBGcGJLw
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 1, 2023
Against Baylor, Utah was unable to find the end zone in the first three quarters.
In the fourth, the Utes tied the game and then took their first lead on a Jaylon Glover TD run with 18 seconds left.
Utes take the lead‼️
📺@espn https://t.co/Q3ZaxvpFoy#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/lzKtLp10OH
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 9, 2023
The Utes wrapped up conference play against in-state foe Weber State.
Utah’s 31-7 win was capped off by a pick-six from Lander Barton. The play continued the school’s streak of seasons with at least one interception returned for a touchdown.
Make that TWENTY consecutive seasons with a pick-6!!
Well done, @BanderLarton!
📺 https://t.co/iAQl9Yl4OD#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/nj6GaEe9Lw
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 16, 2023
The pick-sixes didn’t stop there.
Karene Reid got in on the fun against UCLA and gave Utah an early lead.
FIRST DOWN OF @pac12 PLAY IS A PICK-SIX!! 🙌
📺https://t.co/ASj5Ph2un1#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/O3NCHMJcnI
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 23, 2023
The Utes went on to beat the Bruins, 14-7.
Utah’s first loss came to Oregon State in week five. In the fourth quarter, Thomas Yassmin scored to prevent a shutout loss to the Beavers.
The YAC Man takes it in for 6!
📺 @FS1 https://t.co/ASj5Ph2un1#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/iNn4qpxGsV
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 30, 2023
The following game against the Cal Golden Bears saw the emergence of Sione Vaki on offense.
The safety took some snaps from the backfield following some injuries and flourished.
He posted over 150 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
We tried to tell you he’s nice with it. 👀👀👀
📺 @Pac12Network #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/r6YEz5yM4l
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 14, 2023
The Utes moved to 5-1 with a win over Cal and looked on to Pac-12 rival USC in week seven.
RELATED: Birth Of The Utah Utes And USC Trojans College Football Rivalry
The entire game felt like a movie for Utes fans so here are all of the highlights.
What. A. Game.
📽️ HIGHLIGHTS 📽️@Utah_Football | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/ZV9WOPFUc9
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) October 22, 2023
Things started to go downhill for Utah in week eight.
They were unable to find the end zone as Oregon made easy work of the Utes in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The following game allowed Utah to blow off some steam as they faced the 2-6 ASU Sun Devils.
Here are all seven touchdowns from the week nine blowout.
Utah 55 – Arizona State 3
📽️ HIGHLIGHTS 📽️@Utah_Football | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/BmEHggzM3Q
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 5, 2023
The Utes put up a season-high 55 points and only allowed Arizona State to score a field goal.
Utah picked up its third loss to the eventual Pac-12 champion Washington Huskies in week 10.
The highlight of the game came in the second quarter when Sione Vaki gave the Utes a lead with a 53-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown.
SEE YOU LATER ⚡️
Sione Vaki hit the jets for a @Utah_Football TD pic.twitter.com/v18iG76dfX
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 11, 2023
For the first time since weeks two and three of 2021, Utah lost two straight as they dropped to the Wildcats in Arizona Stadium.
Devaughn Vele caught a pass in the back of the end zone to put Utah on the board in the second quarter.
Incredible pass and catch to get the Utes on the board 🙌 pic.twitter.com/A4rUoi6DrR
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) November 18, 2023
The Utes ended the regular season strong with a 23-17 win over Colorado.
Backup QB Luke Bottari got his first start and ran in two touchdowns.
ICYMI – Utah 23 – Colorado 17
📽️ HIGHLIGHTS 📽️@Utah_Football | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/MIRdnKKYSu
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 26, 2023
Unfortunately, the season didn’t end how Utah had hoped.
They qualified for a bowl game but lost to Northwestern in a defensive battle.
Utah RB Micah Bernard returned from injury just in time for the Las Vegas Bowl and ran in the Utes’ sole touchdown.
.@ctb_mb punches it in‼️
📺: @ESPNCFB #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/sWiycLc3iD
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) December 24, 2023
Utah Football will kick off its 2024 season against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds on August 29.
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Chandler Holt is a co-host for the Jazz Notes podcast and a Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter @ChandlerHoltKSL or on Threads @chandlerho1t.
