Instant Takeaways: Utah’s 27-19 loss to Arizona State
Oct 12, 2024, 12:08 AM | Updated: Oct 14, 2024, 3:02 pm
TEMPE, Arizona – Utah football dropped their second straight game, this one in a 27-19 loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Coming off of a bye week, this was viewed as an opportunity for the program to right the ship. Unfortunately, the issues only seem to continue to mount.
With the second conference loss, Utah’s 2024 season is now at a crossroads.
Utah Football falls to Arizona State in Sun Devil Stadium, 27-19. #GoUtes #Big12FB #CFB https://t.co/yc7BWhbmvX
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 12, 2024
Excitement over Cam Rising’s return evaporated before it even settled in
As quarterback Cam Rising led the offense onto the field for the first possession of the game, it seemed Utah had finally made it.
Their star quarterback had actually returned to the field to lead Utah’s offense again. Considering how the offense looked before his injury, there was plenty of reason to be excited.
Then, on the third play of the game, Rising made a throw under duress. He was wrapped up and spun to the ground with his leg caught underneath him.
He got up from the field with a noticeable limp. After a few plays the limp was still there. As Utah got into their second and third possessions, the limp continued. He was clearly hobbled and limited in what he could do.
Throws consistently ended up short of the mark. He could maneuver in the pocket but not much else. There was an inability to drive throws down the field with any velocity.
Perhaps the most costly thing for Utah tonight was the decision to keep him in the game. He looked like a shell of himself.
The injury cost Utah their offensive balance
Rising’s injury unfortunately greatly impacted the passing game. Rising consistently left throws short, off target, or without the requisite velocity.
His struggles were reflected in his stat line: 16-of-37 for 209 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions
It also meant a much more aggressive ASU defense. That manifested itself in constant pressure on Rising and a loaded box against the run.
Utah eventually found more success in both phases of the game but it wasn’t easy.
Missed tackles continue to plague the Utah defense
Missed tackles have been an issue all season and it reared its ugly head against tonight for the Utes.
Credit where it’s due, Cam Skatteboo is an absolute unit at running back. His game is built on running tough and breaking tackles. However, Utah’s tackling was absolutely dreadful in this one.
Skatteboo broke loose for a 50-yard touchdown run late in the 3rd quarter. On that play alone, he broke through five tackle attempts.
It feels like an easy fix, guys simply need to play more fundamentally sound instead of hunting for the big hit. Yet, here we are six games into the season and it continues to be an issue.
Don’t question Micah Bernard’s heart
He’s been the most consistent source of offense this season. Bernard runs as physically as he runs dynamically. He’s been a source of explosive plays and tough yardage gains.
Bernard broke the 100-yard mark on Utah’s seventh possession of the game, which came in the 3rd quarter. He also punched it into the end zone for Utah’s first touchdown of the game on the same possession.
There is little denying Bernard’s status as RB1 but he is clearly Utah’s top playmaker now as well. He gave everything he had to the team tonight. Appreciate him and what he’s doing for this team.
He finished tonight with 129 rushing yards and one touchdown, along with 61 receiving yards on five receptions. He gave it his all tonight.
They took the points, until they didn’t in an absolute head-scratching decision
Utah found a bit of a groove in the second half. They found ways to produce in both phases of the offense.
Following the touchdown drive in the 3rd quarter, Utah put together another good possession that got them into scoring position.
Utah was down to the ASU 20-yard line with a 4th & 8. It seemed like an easy decision to kick the field goal and make it a one-point game, 20-19.
Instead, Utah went for it, came up well short of the required yard line, and turned it over on downs.
Had they taken the field goal there, Utah would have taken a 22-19 lead after their next possession, which also ended in a field goal.
Utah’s 2024 season at a crossroads
Six games into the season and this is not even close to the experience many believed Utah would have. There is no denying it, with two conference losses, Utah’s title hopes seem bleak.
The non-stop injury issues provided gut punch after gut punch. It’s been a painful experience thus far.
Perhaps, it’s time to start assessing how much investment needs to be shifted to the future.
Coaches will certainly continue to make the ‘here and now’ the priority but is that the best decision for the well-being of the program in the years to come?
Given Rising’s health and personal injury report that can’t seem to stop growing, it may be in the best interest of everyone to hand the ball over to the true freshman, Isaac Wilson.
That’s a tough pill to swallow six games into the season but it is something that many will begin to clamor for.
