The 2024 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah as a member of the Big 12 Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by Kyle Whittingham in his 20th year as their head coach. The Utes played their games at Rice–Eccles Stadium located in Salt Lake City. The season was the Utes' first year in the Big 12.
The Utes were favored to win the conference in the pre-season, ranking No. 12 in the initial AP poll. During a non-conference win at home against Baylor,This game was originally scheduled before Utah's move to the Big 12 Conference, and was still considered a non-conference game. starting quarterback Cameron Rising suffered a minor injury to his throwing hand, putting true freshman Isaac Wilson into the starting role. He would succeed in bringing the team to a 4–0 start, including the team's first conference win against then-ranked Oklahoma State. After a home loss to Arizona, Rising returned to the starting role for a road game against Arizona State. Suffering a leg injury on the third play of the game, Rising struggled in the team's second consecutive loss, and eventually underwent surgery for the injury to his leg, causing him to be ruled out for the season. The streak of losses would continue at home against TCU, after which longtime Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig resigned, leaving the role to quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian. On the road against Houston, Utah picked up another loss on a last-second 43-yard field goal by Houston kicker Jack Martin. At home against 9th-ranked rival BYU, the Utes started sophomore quarterback Brandon Rose over Wilson. Utah was able to nearly seal a win before a 4th-down stop was nullified by a controversial holding call, eventually resulting in a last-second BYU field goal that cemented the loss. Immediately after the game, Utah AD Mark Harlan made an unplanned appearance at the team's post-game press conference, stating in part, "I've been an athletic director for 12 years. This game was absolutely stolen from us. We were excited about being in the Big 12, but tonight I am not." Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark subsequently fined him $40,000 for "challenging the professionalism of our officials and the integrity of the Big 12 Conference." During the following week, it was revealed that Rose had suffered a tear to his lisfranc ligament before halftime during the BYU game, requiring surgery that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Starting tight end Brant Kuithe also suffered a season-ending injury during the game. Wilson returned to the starting lineup on the road against Colorado, where a blowout loss gave Utah its first six-game losing streak since 2002. Against Iowa State, Isaac Wilson became the fourth Utah quarterback to suffer a season-ending injury after a "gator roll" tackle injured his knee, putting Luke Bottari into the starting role. Despite two touchdowns from the defense, a missed game-tying field goal cemented Utah's first losing season since 2013. In the team's final game against UCF, the defense was able to score another two touchdowns, breaking the seven-game losing streak with a two-score win.
In a press conference prior to the team's final game, Kyle Whittingham had alluded to potentially retiring, stating “My decision will be made on what’s best for the program, not what’s best for me”, calling defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley "the coach in waiting". New Mexico Lobos offensive coordinator Jason Beck was hired to fill the vacant OC role for Utah on December 5. On December 8th, Whittingham announced he would be returning for his 21st season at head coach via an announcement styled after Michael Jordan's 1995 comeback statement.
Offseason
Team departures Source: +2024 Utah offseason departuresNameNumberPos.Height, WeightYearHometownNotesJonah Elliss#83DE6'2", 246 lbsJuniorMoscow, IdahoDeclared for NFL draft, drafted 76th by the Denver BroncosEmery Simmons#18WR6'1", 182 lbsSeniorParkton, North CarolinaDeclared for NFL draft, undraftedMiles Battle#1CB6'4", 205 lbsSeniorHouston, TexasDeclared for NFL draft, signed by the Kansas City ChiefsKeaton Bills#51OL6'4", 316 lbsJuniorDraper, UtahDeclared for NFL draft, signed by the Buffalo BillsSione Vaki#28S/RB6'0", 208 lbsSophomoreAntioch, CaliforniaDeclared for NFL draft, drafted 132nd by the Detroit LionsCole Bishop#8S6'2", 207 lbsJuniorPeachtree City, GeorgiaDeclared for NFL draft, drafted 60th by the Buffalo BillsDevaughn Vele#17WR6'5", 210 lbsJuniorSan Diego, CaliforniaDeclared for NFL draft, drafted 235th by the Denver Broncos Ja'Quinden Jackson#3RB6'2", 228 lbsSophomoreDallas, TexasTransferred to ArkansasNoah Bennee#89TE6'4", 235 lbsSophomoreHolladay, UtahTransferred to Weber StateMikey Matthews#0WR5'8", 180 lbsFreshmanIrvine, CaliforniaTransferred to CaliforniaMack Howard#9QB6'2", 189 lbsFreshmanColumbus, MississippiTransferred to SamfordBryson Barnes#16QB6'1", 209 lbsJuniorMilford, UtahTransferred to Utah StateNate Johnson#13QB6'1", 195 lbs FreshmanClovis, CaliforniaTransferred to VanderbiltKenzel Lawler#2CB6'0", 184 lbsSophomoreCorona, CaliforniaTransferred to MontanaFarbian Marks#23CB5'10", 191 lbsJuniorRichmond, TexasTransferred to RiceMakai Cope#11WR6'3", 200 lbsSophomoreCulver City, CaliforniaTransferred to Sacramento StateJocelyn Malaska#33CB6'1", 178 lbs FreshmanBethany, OklahomaTransferred to OklahomaJadon Pearson#39S6'3", 200 lbs SophomoreGilbert, ArizonaTransferred to Utah StateJustin Medlock#6LB6'0", 220 lbs FreshmanMissouri City, TexasTransferred to SMUDarrien "Bleu" Stewart#24S6'0", 202 lbsSophomoreLas Vegas, NevadaTransferred to BYUHayden Erickson#46TE6'2", 246 lbsSophomoreLehi, UtahTransferred to South DakotaOwen Chambliss#54LB6'3", 230 lbsFreshmanCorona, CaliforniaTransferred to San Diego StateKolinu'u Faaiu#61OL6'3", 326 lbsSophomoreEdmonds, WashingtonTransferred to Texas A&MThomas Yassmin#87TE6'5", 251 lbsSeniorSydney, AustraliaDeclared for NFL draft, signed by the Denver BroncosChase Carter#67K6'2", 193 lbsSeniorKnoxville, IowaGraduatedHayden Furey#44LB6'2", 232 lbsSeniorSaratoga Springs, UtahGraduatedJason Siaosi#49LB6'0", 227 lbsSeniorCarlsbad, CaliforniaGraduatedSidney Mbanasor#84WR6'5", 214 lbs FreshmanPflugerville, TexasTransferred to TulaneChase Kennedy#13DE6'3", 235 lbs FreshmanDallas, TexasTransferred to ArizonaHunter Deuel#66OL6'5", 305 lbs FreshmanAmerican Fork, UtahTransferred to Weber State JaTravis Broughton#4CB5'11", 190 lbsSeniorTulsa, OklahomaTransferred to TCU
Team additions
Transfer portal +2024 Utah transfer portal additionsNameNumberPos.Height, WeightYearHometownNotesDorian Singer#3WR6'0", 181 lbsJuniorSaint Paul, MinnesotaTransferred from USCTaeshaun Lyons#0WR6'1", 177 lbsFreshmanHayward, CaliforniaTransferred from WashingtonAlaka'i Gilman#11S5'10", 194 lbsSeniorLāʻie, HawaiiTransferred from StanfordCameron Calhoun#4CB6'0", 177 lbsFreshmanCincinnati, OhioTransferred from MichiganAnthony Woods#28RB5'10", 180 lbsJuniorPalmdale, CaliforniaTransferred from IdahoKenan Johnson#1CB6'1", 181 lbsSeniorMinneola, FloridaTransferred from Georgia TechJohn Henry Daley#90DE6'4", 251 lbsFreshmanAlpine, UtahTransferred from BYUCarsen Ryan#85TE6'4", 252 lbsJuniorOrem, UtahTransferred from UCLACaleb Lohner#84TE6'7", 250 lbsSeniorFlower Mound, TexasTransferred from BaylorElliot Janish#46P6'2", 200 lbsJuniorMidwest City, OklahomaTransferred from TroySam Huard#14QB6'2", 204 lbsSeniorBellevue, WashingtonTransferred from Cal PolyPaul Fitzgerald#40DE6'3", 253 lbsSophomoreIdaho Falls, IdahoTransferred from Utah StateDamien Alford#9WR6'6", 215 lbsSeniorMontreal, QuebecTransferred from Syracuse
2024 recruiting class
Big 12 media poll The preseason poll was released on July 2, 2024.
+Big 12 1 Utah 906 (20) 2 Kansas State 889 (19) 3 Oklahoma State 829 (14) 4 Kansas 772 (5) 5 Arizona 762 (3) 6 Iowa State 661 7 West Virginia 581 8 UCF 551 9 Texas Tech 532 10 TCU 436 11 Colorado 400 12 Baylor 268 13 BYU 215 14 Cincinnati 196 15 Houston 157 16 Arizona State 141
First place votes in ()
Schedule
Game summaries
vs. Southern Utah (FCS)
Statistics SUUUTAH First downs 9 26 Total yards 150 513 Rushing yards 79 185 Passing yards 71 328 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–21–1 17–26–2 Time of possession 28:45 31:15 Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Utah Passing Jackson Berry 6/11, 54 yards, INT Rushing Targhee Lambson 6 carries, 44 yards Receiving Mark Bails 3 receptions, 42 yardsUtah Passing Cameron Rising 10/15, 254 yards, 5 TD Rushing Dijon Stanley 6 carries, 34 yards Receiving Dijon Stanley 3 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TD
vs. Baylor
Statistics BAY UTAH First downs 12 15 Total yards 223 292 Rushing yards 108 170 Passing yards 115 122 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–21–0 12–23–0 Time of possession 25:37 34:23 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Dequan Finn 9/21, 115 yards, 1 TD Rushing Dawson Pendergrass 9 carries, 69 yards Receiving Josh Cameron 2 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TDUtah Passing Cameron Rising 8/14, 92 yards, 2 TD Rushing Micah Bernard 19 carries, 118 yards Receiving Money Parks 3 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD
at Utah State (Battle of the Brothers)
Statistics UTAH USU First downs 2314 Total yards 460385 Rushing yards 221140 Passing yards 239245 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–33–118–35–2 Time of possession 37:1822:42 Team Category Player StatisticsUtah Passing Isaac Wilson 20/33, 239 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Micah Bernard 17 carries, 123 yards, TD Receiving Brant Kuithe 3 receptions, 68 yardsUtah State Passing Bryson Barnes 16/31, 223 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Rahsul Faison 19 carries, 115 yards Receiving Otto Tia 5 receptions, 78 yards
at No. 14 Oklahoma State
Statistics UTAH OKST First downs 20 11 Total yards 456 285 Rushing yards 249 48 Passing yards 207 237 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–29–2 19–44–2 Time of possession 42:26 17:34 Team Category Player StatisticsUtah Passing Isaac Wilson 17/29, 207 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Micah Bernard 25 carries, 182 yards Receiving Dorian Singer 7 receptions, 95 yards Oklahoma State Passing Alan Bowman 16/33, 206 yards, 2 TD's 2 INT Rushing Ollie Gordon 11 carries, 42 yards Receiving De'Zhaun Stribling 3 receptions, 50 yards
vs Arizona
Statistics ARIZ UTAH First downs 17 19 Total yards 358 364 Rushing yards 161 84 Passing yards 197 280 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–31–1 20–40–2 Time of possession 27:55 31:55 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Noah Fifita 19/31, 197 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kedrick Reescano 7 carries, 73 yards Receiving Kenyan Burnett 5 receptions, 76 yards, TDUtah Passing Isaac Wilson 20/40, 280 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Micah Bernard 16 carries, 91 yards Receiving Dorian Singer 9 receptions, 155 yards
at Arizona State
Statistics UTAH ASU First downs 22 15 Total yards 349 343 Rushing yards 140 176 Passing yards 209 167 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–37–3 11–18–1 Time of possession 32:29 27:31 Team Category Player StatisticsUtah Passing Cam Rising 16/37, 209 yards, 3 INT Rushing Micah Bernard 21 carries, 129 yards, TD Receiving Dorian Singer 4 receptions, 75 yardsArizona State Passing Sam Leavitt 11/18, 154 yards, TD, INT Rushing Cam Skattebo 22 carries, 158 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jordyn Tyson 5 receptions, 84 yards, TD
vs TCU
Statistics TCU UTAH First downs 20 12 Total yards 395 267 Rushing yards 132 68 Passing yards 263 199 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–41–0 17–33–1 Time of possession 30:55 29:05 Team Category Player StatisticsTCU Passing Josh Hoover 22/41, 263 yards Rushing Savion Williams 7 carries, 72 yards Receiving Eric McAlister 2 receptions, 57 yardsUtah Passing Isaac Wilson 17/33, 199 yards, TD, INT Rushing Micah Bernard 13 carries, 55 yards Receiving Money Parks 3 receptions, 79 yards, TD
at Houston
Statistics UTAH HOU First downs 12 16 Total yards 306 289 Rushing yards 90 228 Passing yards 216 61 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–37–1 6–13–1 Time of possession 28:58 31:02