American college football season
The 2021 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Utes were led by 17th-year head coach Kyle Whittingham and played their home games at Rice–Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City as members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. Despite a rough start to the season and the death of players Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe,[1] the Utes rallied and won their first Pac-12 championship since joining the conference in 2011, defeating the tenth-ranked Oregon Ducks, 38–10, in the conference championship game. The Utes completed their season with their first ever appearance in the Rose Bowl, where they lost to Ohio State.
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
| 7:30 p.m. | No. 6 (FCS) Weber State* | No. 24 | | P12N | W 40–17 | 51,511 |
September 11 | 8:15 p.m. | at BYU* | No. 21 | | ESPN | L 17–26 | 63,470 |
September 18 | 5:00 p.m. | at San Diego State* | | | CBSSN | L 31–33 3OT | 11,090 |
September 25 | 12:30 p.m. | Washington State![dagger](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Dagger-14-plain.png) | | - Rice–Eccles Stadium
- Salt Lake City, UT
| P12N | W 24–13 | 51,483 |
October 9 | 6:00 p.m. | at USC | | | FOX | W 42–26 | 54,088 |
October 16 | 8:00 p.m. | No. 18 Arizona State | | - Rice–Eccles Stadium
- Salt Lake City, UT
| ESPN | W 35–21 | 51,724 |
October 23 | 5:30 p.m. | at Oregon State | | | P12N | L 34–42 | 30,203 |
October 30 | 8:00 p.m. | UCLA | | - Rice–Eccles Stadium
- Salt Lake City, UT
| ESPN | W 44–24 | 51,922 |
| 8:30 p.m. | at Stanford | | | FS1 | W 52–7 | 26,410 |
November 13 | 12:00 p.m. | at Arizona | No. 24 | | P12N | W 38–29 | 32,008 |
November 20 | 5:30 p.m. | No. 3 Oregon | No. 23 | - Rice–Eccles Stadium
- Salt Lake City, UT
| ABC | W 38–7 | 52,724 |
| 2:00 p.m. | Colorado | No. 19 | | FOX | W 28–13 | 51,538 |
| 6:00 p.m. | vs. No. 10 Oregon | No. 17 | | ABC | W 38–10 | 56,511 |
January 1, 2022 | 3:00 p.m. | vs. No. 6 Ohio State* | No. 11 | | ESPN | L 45–48 | 87,842 |
|
[2]
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 | Final |
---|
AP | 24 | 21 | RV | — | — | — | — | RV | — | RV | RV | 24 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 12 |
---|
Coaches | RV | 18 | RV | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 19 | 19 | 11 | 12 |
---|
CFP | Not released | — | 24 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 11 | Not released |
---|
Personnel
Game summaries
No. 6 (FCS) Weber State
Weber State at Utah
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 6 (FCS) Wildcats |
7 |
0 | 3 | 7 |
17 |
• No. 24 Utes |
13 |
6 | 7 | 14 |
40 |
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
UTAH –29.5 |
49[3]
|
Statistics |
Weber State |
Utah
|
First downs |
14 |
28
|
Total yards |
270 |
450
|
Rushing yards |
57 |
188
|
Passing yards |
213 |
262
|
Turnovers |
3 |
3
|
Time of possession |
30:24 |
29:36
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Weber State |
Passing |
Bronson Barron |
21/33, 213 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Dontae McMillan |
7 carries, 39 yards
|
Receiving |
Justin Malone |
5 receptions, 50 yards
|
Utah |
Passing |
Charlie Brewer |
19/27, 233 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Tavion Thomas |
12 carries, 107 yards, 2 TDs
|
Receiving |
Dalton Kincaid |
4 receptions, 75 yards, 2 TDs
|
At BYU
Utah at BYU
(Holy War)
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 21 Utes |
0 |
7 | 0 | 10 |
17 |
• Cougars |
3 |
13 | 7 | 3 |
26 |
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
UTAH –7 |
50.5[4]
|
Statistics |
Utah |
BYU
|
First downs |
15 |
21
|
Total yards |
340 |
373
|
Rushing yards |
193 |
224
|
Passing yards |
147 |
149
|
Turnovers |
2 |
1
|
Time of possession |
24:34 |
35:26
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Utah |
Passing |
Charlie Brewer |
15/26, 147 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Micah Bernard |
12 carries, 146 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Dalton Kincaid |
1 reception, 37 yards
|
BYU |
Passing |
Jaren Hall |
18/30, 149 yards, 3 TDs
|
Rushing |
Tyler Allgeier |
27 carries, 102 yards
|
Receiving |
Puka Nacua |
4 receptions, 37 yards
|
At San Diego State
Utah at San Diego State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Utes |
7 |
3 | 0 | 14 | 7 |
31 |
• Aztecs |
3 |
7 | 14 | 0 | 9 |
33 |
- Date: September 18, 2021
- Location: Dignity Health Sports Park
Carson, CA - Game start: 4:08 p.m. PDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 54 minutes
- Game attendance: 11,090
- Game weather: Temperature: 69 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: N 6 MPH
- Referee: Jim Wharrie
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Dave Ryan (play–by–play), Aaron Murray (analyst) and Amanda Guerra (sideline)
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
UTAH –8 |
43[5]
|
Statistics |
Utah |
San Diego State
|
First downs |
21 |
12
|
Total yards |
327 |
248
|
Rushing yards |
70 |
204
|
Passing yards |
257 |
44
|
Turnovers |
1 |
2
|
Time of possession |
30:19 |
29:41
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Utah |
Passing |
Cameron Rising |
19/32, 153 yards, 3 TDs
|
Rushing |
Micah Bernard |
17 carries, 47 yards
|
Receiving |
Brant Kuithe |
7 receptions, 58 yards
|
San Diego State |
Passing |
Lucas Johnson |
10/19, 44 yards, 1 TD
|
Rushing |
Greg Bell |
33 carries, 119 yards, 2 TDs
|
Receiving |
Daniel Bellinger |
1 reception, 15 yards
|
Washington State
Washington State at Utah
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Cougars |
0 |
6 | 7 | 0 |
13 |
• Utes |
0 |
7 | 3 | 14 |
24 |
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
UTAH –15 |
53[6]
|
Statistics |
Washington State |
Utah
|
First downs |
22 |
19
|
Total yards |
318 |
349
|
Rushing yards |
70 |
212
|
Passing yards |
248 |
137
|
Turnovers |
0 |
10
|
Time of possession |
36:53 |
23:07
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Washington State |
Passing |
Jarrett Guarantano |
25/36, 248 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
|
Rushing |
Deon McIntosh |
13 carries, 59 yards
|
Receiving |
De'Zhaun Stribling |
6 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD
|
Utah |
Passing |
Cameron Rising |
13/23, 137 yards
|
Rushing |
T.J. Pledger |
10 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Cole Fotheringham |
3 receptions, 33 yards
|
At USC
Utah at USC
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Utes |
7 |
14 | 14 | 7 |
42 |
Trojans |
3 |
7 | 0 | 16 |
26 |
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
USC –3 |
52.5[7]
|
Statistics |
Utah |
USC
|
First downs |
23 |
27
|
Total yards |
486 |
493
|
Rushing yards |
180 |
92
|
Passing yards |
306 |
401
|
Turnovers |
0 |
1
|
Time of possession |
28:50 |
31:10
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Utah |
Passing |
Cameron Rising |
22/28, 306 yards, 3 TDs
|
Rushing |
Tavion Thomas |
16 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Devaughn Vele |
4 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD
|
USC |
Passing |
Kedon Slovis |
33/53, 401 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Keaontay Ingram |
14 carries, 70 yards
|
Receiving |
Drake London |
16 receptions, 162 yards, 1 TD
|
No. 18 Arizona State
Arizona State at Utah
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 18 Sun Devils |
7 |
14 | 0 | 0 |
21 |
• Utes |
7 |
0 | 14 | 7 |
28 |
- Date: October 16, 2021
- Location: Rice–Eccles Stadium
Salt Lake City, UT - Game start: 8:00 p.m. MDT
- Game attendance: 51,724
- Referee: Chris Coyte
- TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Stormy Buonantony
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
UTAH –1.5 |
51.5[8]
|
Statistics |
Arizona State |
Utah
|
First downs |
20 |
29
|
Total yards |
385 |
455
|
Rushing yards |
148 |
208
|
Passing yards |
237 |
247
|
Turnovers |
1 |
2
|
Time of possession |
28:23 |
31:37
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Arizona State |
Passing |
Jayden Daniels |
20/31, 237 yards, 2 TDs
|
Rushing |
Rachaad White |
9 carries, 56 yards
|
Receiving |
Curtis Hodges |
4 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD
|
Utah |
Passing |
Cameron Rising |
21/33, 247 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
|
Rushing |
Tavion Thomas |
20 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Devaughn Vele |
3 receptions, 57 yards
|
At Oregon State
Utah at Oregon State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Utes |
14 |
10 | 7 | 3 |
34 |
• Beavers |
7 |
7 | 21 | 7 |
42 |
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
UTAH –3 |
57[9]
|
Statistics |
Utah |
Oregon State
|
First downs |
28 |
22
|
Total yards |
455 |
468
|
Rushing yards |
188 |
260
|
Passing yards |
267 |
208
|
Turnovers |
0 |
1
|
Time of possession |
32:25 |
27:35
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Utah |
Passing |
Cameron Rising |
22/36, 267 yards, 2 TDs
|
Rushing |
Tavion Thomas |
21 carries, 74 yards, 2 TDs
|
Receiving |
Devaughn Vele |
3 receptions, 69 yards
|
Oregon State |
Passing |
Chance Nolan |
14/19, 208 yards, 2 TDs
|
Rushing |
B. J. Baylor |
19 carries, 152 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Trevon Bradford |
6 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD
|
UCLA
UCLA at Utah
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bruins |
3 |
7 | 7 | 7 |
24 |
• Utes |
7 |
21 | 0 | 16 |
44 |
- Date: October 30, 2021
- Location: Rice–Eccles Stadium
Salt Lake City, UT - Game start: 8:00 p.m. MDT
- Game attendance: 51,922
- Game weather: Temperature: 54 °F (12 °C) • Weather: Clear
- Referee: Mike McCabe
- TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Stormy Buonantony
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
UTAH –6 |
60.5
|
Statistics |
UCLA |
Utah
|
First downs |
24 |
26
|
Total yards |
411 |
469
|
Rushing yards |
146 |
290
|
Passing yards |
265 |
179
|
Turnovers |
1 |
0
|
Time of possession |
29:13 |
30:47
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
UCLA |
Passing |
Ethan Garbers |
27/44, 265 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Zach Charbonnet |
11 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Kyle Philips |
7 receptions, 86 yards
|
Utah |
Passing |
Cameron Rising |
17/27, 179 yards, 1 TD
|
Rushing |
Tavion Thomas |
24 carries, 160 yards, 4 TDs
|
Receiving |
Brant Kuithe |
5 receptions, 63 yards
|
At Stanford
Utah at Stanford
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Utes |
14 |
24 | 0 | 14 |
52 |
Cardinal |
0 |
0 | 7 | 0 |
7 |
- Date:
- Location: Stanford Stadium
Stanford, CA - Game start: 7:30 p.m. PDT
- Game attendance: 26,410
- Game weather: Temperature: 58 °F (14 °C) • Weather: Cloudy
- Referee: Francisco Villar
- TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust, Petros Papadakis
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
UTAH –11 |
52
|
Statistics |
Utah |
Stanford
|
First downs |
31 |
11
|
Total yards |
581 |
167
|
Rushing yards |
441 |
82
|
Passing yards |
140 |
85
|
Turnovers |
1 |
2
|
Time of possession |
30:22 |
29:38
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Utah |
Passing |
Cameron Rising |
13/22, 140 yards
|
Rushing |
Tavion Thomas |
20 carries, 177 yards, 4 TDs
|
Receiving |
Micah Bernard |
2 receptions, 32 yards
|
Stanford |
Passing |
Jack West |
12/18, 59 yards, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
E. J. Smith |
7 carries, 53 yards
|
Receiving |
Benjamin Yurosek |
4 receptions, 42 yards
|
At Arizona
Utah at Arizona
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• No. 24 Utes |
7 |
14 | 10 | 7 |
38 |
Wildcats |
14 |
3 | 3 | 9 |
29 |
- Date: November 13, 2021
- Location: Arizona Stadium
Tucson, AZ - Game start: 12:10 p.m. MST
- Game attendance: 32,008
- Game weather: Temperature: 81 °F (27 °C) • Weather: Sunny
- Referee: Chris Coyte
- TV announcers (P12N): Roxy Bernstein, Lincoln Kennedy
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
UTAH –24 |
54[10]
|
Statistics |
Utah |
Arizona
|
First downs |
26 |
16
|
Total yards |
468 |
329
|
Rushing yards |
174 |
102
|
Passing yards |
294 |
227
|
Turnovers |
0 |
0
|
Time of possession |
33:53 |
26:07
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Utah |
Passing |
Cameron Rising |
19/30, 294 yards, 2 TDs
|
Rushing |
T. J. Pledger |
25 carries, 119 yards, 2 TDs
|
Receiving |
Micah Bernard |
3 receptions, 60 yards
|
Arizona |
Passing |
Will Plummer |
19/34, 223 yards, 1 TD
|
Rushing |
Will Plummer |
10 carries, 50 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Dorian Singer |
5 receptions, 84 yards
|
No. 3 Oregon
Oregon at Utah
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 3 Ducks |
0 |
0 | 7 | 0 |
7 |
• No. 23 Utes |
7 |
21 | 7 | 3 |
38 |
- Date: November 20, 2021
- Location: Rice–Eccles Stadium
Salt Lake City, UT - Game start: 5:30 p.m. MST
- Game attendance: 52,724
- Referee: Mike McCabe
- TV announcers (ABC): Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Molly McGrath
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
UTAH –3 |
58.5[11]
|
Statistics |
Oregon |
Utah
|
First downs |
18 |
24
|
Total yards |
294 |
386
|
Rushing yards |
63 |
208
|
Passing yards |
231 |
178
|
Turnovers |
0 |
0
|
Time of possession |
24:33 |
35:27
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Oregon |
Passing |
Anthony Brown |
17/35, 231 yards, 1 TD
|
Rushing |
Byron Cardwell |
7 carries, 35 yards
|
Receiving |
Kris Hutson |
4 receptions, 96 yards
|
Utah |
Passing |
Cameron Rising |
10/18, 178 yards
|
Rushing |
Tavion Thomas |
21 carries, 94 yards, 3 TDs
|
Receiving |
Brant Kuithe |
5 receptions, 118 yards
|
Colorado
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
UTAH –24 |
52.5[12]
|
Statistics |
Colorado |
Utah
|
First downs |
9 |
23
|
Total yards |
148 |
444
|
Rushing yards |
64 |
265
|
Passing yards |
84 |
179
|
Turnovers |
0 |
1
|
Time of possession |
25:53 |
34:07
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Colorado |
Passing |
Brendon Lewis |
9/23, 84 yards
|
Rushing |
Alex Fontenot |
10 carries, 28 yards
|
Receiving |
Dimitri Stanley |
3 receptions, 48 yards
|
Utah |
Passing |
Cameron Rising |
14/23, 179 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Tavion Thomas |
25 carries, 142 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Britain Covey |
5 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD
|
Vs. No. 10 Oregon (Pac-12 Championship game)
2021 Pac-12 Football Championship Game presented by 76
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 10 Ducks |
0 |
0 | 3 | 7 |
10 |
• No. 17 Utes |
14 |
9 | 8 | 7 |
38 |
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
UTAH –3 |
57.5[13]
|
Statistics |
Oregon |
Utah
|
First downs |
14 |
21
|
Total yards |
221 |
361
|
Rushing yards |
74 |
191
|
Passing yards |
147 |
170
|
Turnovers |
2 |
2
|
Time of possession |
27:56 |
32:04
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Oregon |
Passing |
Anthony Brown |
13/24, 147 yards, 2 INTs
|
Rushing |
Travis Dye |
15 carries, 82 yards, 2 TDs
|
Receiving |
Isaah Crocker |
3 receptions, 51 yards
|
Utah |
Passing |
Cameron Rising |
15/24, 170 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
|
Rushing |
Tavion Thomas |
18 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Britain Covey |
5 receptions, 72 yards
|
Vs. No. 6 Ohio State (Rose Bowl)
Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One Venture X
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 12 Utes |
14 |
21 | 3 | 7 |
45 |
• No. 6 Buckeyes |
0 |
21 | 10 | 17 |
48 |
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
OHST –4 |
64.5[14]
|
Statistics |
Utah |
Ohio State
|
First downs |
25 |
28
|
Total yards |
463 |
683
|
Rushing yards |
226 |
110
|
Passing yards |
237 |
573
|
Turnovers |
1 |
2
|
Time of possession |
34:17 |
25:43
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Utah |
Passing |
Cameron Rising |
17/22, 214 yards, 2 TDs
|
Rushing |
Cameron Rising |
11 carries, 92 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Brant Kuithe |
6 receptions, 77 yards
|
Ohio State |
Passing |
C. J. Stroud |
37/46, 573 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
TreVeyon Henderson |
17 carries, 83 yards
|
Receiving |
Jaxon Smith-Njigba |
15 receptions, 347 yards, 3 TDs
|
Awards and honors
- September 7, 2021 – Devin Lloyd, Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week[15]
References
- ^ Allen, Trevor (January 13, 2022). "Behind The Scenes Of Covering 2021 Utah Football Program". KSL Sports. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ^ "2021 Utah Utes football schedule". University of Utah. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Weber State Wildcats vs Utah Utes". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Utah Utes vs BYU Cougars". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Utah Utes vs San Diego State Aztecs". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ "Washington State Cougars vs Utah Utes". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ^ "Utah Utes vs USC Trojans". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ "Arizona State Sun Devils vs Utah Utes". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
- ^ "Utah Utes vs Oregon State Beavers". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ "Utah Utes vs Arizona Wildcats". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ "Oregon Ducks vs Utah Utes". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ^ "Colorado Buffaloes vs Utah Utes". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ^ "Oregon Ducks vs Utah Utes". Odds Shark. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ "Utah Utes vs Ohio State Buckeyes". Odds Shark. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ Allen, Trevor (September 7, 2021). "Devin Lloyd Named Pac-12 Defensive Player Of The Week, Three Utes Nominated". KSL Sports. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |
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Pacific Coast | |
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AAWU | |
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Pacific-8 | |
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Pacific-10 | |
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Pac-12 | |
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National championships in bold |
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