American college football season
The 2020 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Utes were led by 16th-year head coach Kyle Whittingham and played their home games at Rice–Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah , as members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference .
On August 11, 2020, the Pac-12 suspended all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic . On September 24, the Pac-12 announced that football teams would return to play a seven-game conference-only season beginning on November 6, with the conference championship game scheduled for December 18.
On December 18, with a 2–2 record and one game left to play, the Utes announced that they would not pursue a bid to a bowl game . The Utes won their final game, finishing their season with a 3–2 record. Running back Ty Jordan was voted the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year .
Schedule
Utah had games scheduled against BYU , Montana State , and Wyoming , but canceled these games on July 10 due to the Pac-12 Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
On November 24, Utah's scheduled game at Arizona State for November 29 was canceled after a COVID-19 outbreak within the Arizona State program. The Pac-12 then announced that Utah would instead play at Washington on November 28; the Huskies' scheduled game at Washington State had also been canceled after Washington State had a COVID-19 outbreak.
Original 2020 Utah Utes schedule
Date
Opponent
Site
September 3
BYU *Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT (Holy War )
September 12
Montana State *Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
September 19
at Wyoming *
War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WY
September 26
at California
California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA
October 2
USC Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
October 10
at Washington State
Martin Stadium • Pullman, WA
October 17
Washington Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
October 29
at UCLA
Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA
November 7
Arizona Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
November 14
Oregon State Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
November 21
at Arizona State
Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ
November 28
at Colorado
Folsom Field • Boulder, CO (Rumble in the Rockies )
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance November 7 1:30 p.m. Arizona ESPN2 No Contest
November 14 8:30 p.m. at UCLA FOX No Contest
November 21 8:30 p.m. No. 20 USC Rice–Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT ESPN L 17–33 0
November 28 5:30 p.m. at Washington ABC L 21–24 259
December 5 8:30 p.m. Oregon State Rice–Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT ESPN W 30–24 0
December 12 10:00 a.m. at No. 21 Colorado FOX W 38–21 0
December 19 11:30 a.m. Washington State Rice–Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT FS1 W 45–28 0
Rankings
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Final AP 22 22* — — RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV — — — — — — Coaches 20 20* — — — RV RV RV RV RV RV RV — — — RV RV RV CFP Not released — — — — — Not released
Personnel
2020 Utah Utes football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
LB
0
Devin Lloyd Jr
CB
2
Aaron Lowe So
CB
3
Drew Rawls Fr
CB
4
JaTravis Broughton So
CB
5
Caine Savage Fr
S
6
Nate Ritchie Fr
DE
7
Van Fillinger Fr
CB
8
Clark Phillips III Fr
LB
9
Sione Fotu Fr
LB
10
Ethan Calvert Fr
S
10
R. J. Hubert Jr
S
11
Dakota Hansen Jr
DE
12
Tyler Wegis Fr
S
13
Kamo'i Latu Fr
S
14
Ben Renfro Fr
CB
15
Malone Mataele So
S
16
Zemaiah Vaughn Fr
DB
18
Ousmane Doumbia Fr
S
19
Vonte Davis Sr
LB
20
Jeremy Mercier Jr
CB
23
Faybian Marks Fr
CB
25
Kenzel Lawler Fr
S
28
Jake Biggs Fr
LB
29
Nephi Sewell Jr
LB
30
Chris Wilson Fr
CB
31
LaCarea Pleasant-Johnson Fr
LB
32
Moroni Anae Jr
S
38
Stone Azarcon Jr
DT
41
Hauati Pututau Sr
DE
42
Mika Tafua Jr
DE
44
Xavier Carlton Fr
DE
46
Miki Suguturaga Fr
LB
47
Rob Bonar Fr
DT
49
Pita Tonga Sr
DT
50
Fua Pututau So
LB
51
Samuelu Elisaia Sr
DE
52
Max Miner Fr
LB
54
Hayden Furey So
LB
55
Andrew Mata'afa So
DE
56
Tyler Gonzalez So
DT
57
Eli Morrow So
DE
58
Junior Tafuna Fr
LB
59
Sione Tuha Fr
DE
65
Tyler Gleed Fr
DE
66
Gavin Nawahine Fr
LB
81
Taniela Pututau Fr
DE
90
Devin Kaufusi Jr
DE
91
Blake Kuithe So
DE
92
Maxs Tupai Sr
DL
93
Semisi Lauaki Fr
DT
95
Aliki Vimahi Fr
DT
96
Tanoa Togiai Fr
DT
98
Viane Moala Sr
DL
99
Tennessee Pututau Fr
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
K
22
Jordan Noyes Fr
P
33
Ben Lennon So
K
36
Skylar Southam Jr
P
37
Jared March Fr
LS
48
Noah Rodriguez-Trammell Jr
K/P
61
Tanner Cragun Fr
LS
93
Keegan Markgraf Sr
K
97
Jadon Redding So
Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Morgan Scalley – Defensive coordinator/safeties Andy Ludwig – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Jim Harding – Assistant head coach/offensive line
Sharrieff Shah – Special teams coordinator/cornerbacks Freddie Whittingham – Tight ends/recruiting coordinator
Guy Holliday – Wide receivers
Kiel McDonald – Running backs
Sione Po'uha – Defensive tackles Lewis Powell – Defensive ends
Colton Swan – Linebackers
Ryan Blakney – Offensive Analyst
Vince Conti – Offensive Analyst
Ryan Lindley – Offensive Analyst Dom Conti – Special Teams Analyst
J. J. Dielman – Offensive Graduate Assistant D. J. Gillins – Offensive Graduate Assistant
Justin Mallgrav – Defensive Graduate Assistant Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) IneligibleRoster
Depth chart
Game summaries
USC
Game information
1st Quarter
Utah (9:07) – #97 Jadon Redding kicks a 36 yard field goal – Utah 3–0
USC (5:17) – #48 Parker Lewis kicks a 35 yard field goal – Tied 3–3 2nd Quarter
USC (14:04) – #29 Vavae Malepeai runs for a 2 yard TD (#48 Parker Lewis kick) – USC 10–3
Utah (11:53) – #29 Nephi Sewell recovered a fumble for a 23 yard TD (#97 Jadon Redding kick) – Tied 10–10
USC (9:28) – #9 Kedon Slovis to #21 Isaiah Pola-Mao for a 8 yard pass TD (#48 Parker Lewis kick) – USC 17–10
USC (5:45) – #9 Kedon Slovis to #84 Erik Krommenhoek for a 10 yard pass TD (#48 Parker Lewis kick) – USC 24–10
Utah (0:49) – #8 Jake Bentley to #45 Samson Nacua for a 7 yard pass TD (#97 Jadon Redding kick) – USC 24–17 3rd Quarter
USC (9:32) – #48 Parker Lewis kicks a 44 yard field goal – USC 27–17
USC (4:47) – #48 Parker Lewis kicks a 43 yard field goal – USC 30–17 4th Quarter
USC (1:03) – #48 Parker Lewis kicks a 47 yard field goal – USC 33–17
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
At Washington
Due to Arizona State not having the minimum number of scholarship players available due to positive COVID-19 tests Utah was rescheduled to play at Washington.
Game information
Top passers Top rushers Utah – RB Ty Jordan : 10 carries, 99 yards
UW – RB Sean McGrew: 7 carries, 38 yards Top receiving
Oregon State
Oregon State Beavers vs. Utah Utes – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Beavers
0
10
0 14 24
Utes 6
10
7 7 30
at Rice-Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, Utah
Date : December 5, 2020Game time : 8:30 p.m. MST Game weather : Clear, 30 °F (−1 °C)Game attendance : 0Referee : Mike McCabeTV : ESPN Reference
Game information
First quarter UTAH – Jadon Redding 33-yard field goal, 10:21. Utah 3–0. Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 4:39.
UTAH – Jadon Redding 20-yard field goal, 6:50. Utah 6–0. Drive: 4 plays, 8 yards, 1:31. Second quarter UTAH – Jadon Redding 27-yard field goal, 12:27. Utah 9–0. Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 5:12.
OSU – Everett Hayes 33-yard field goal, 9:16. Utah 9–3. Drive: 7 plays, 54 yards, 3:05.
UTAH – Ty Jordan 1-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 3:10. Utah 16–3. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 6:06.
OSU – Calvin Tyler Jr. 1-yard run (Everett Hayes kick), 0:50. Utah 16–10. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 2:20. Third quarter UTAH – Britain Covey 8-yard pass from Jake Bentley (Jadon Redding kick), 6:22. Utah 23–10. Drive: 14 plays, 89 yards, 7:45. Fourth quarter UTAH – Britain Covey 64-yard punt return (Jadon Redding kick), 14:37. Utah 30–10.
OSU – Calvin Tyler Jr. 6-yard run (Everett Hayes kick), 11:50. Utah 30–17. Drive: 8 plays, 65 yards, 2:41.
OSU – Kolby Taylor 21-yard pass from Chance Nolan (Everett Hayes kick), 5:07. Utah 30–24. Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 2:11.
Top passers OSU – Chance Nolan – 20/38, 202 yards, TD, INT
UTAH – Jake Bentley – 18/27, 174 yards, TD Top rushers OSU – Jack Colletto – 1 rush, 40 yards
UTAH – Ty Jordan – 27 rushes, 167 yards, TD Top receivers
At Colorado
Total
Utes
7
3
14
14
38
No. 21 Buffaloes
0
14
7
0
21
Washington State
Washington State Cougars (1–2) at Utah Utes (2–2)
Quarter
Total
Cougars
7
21
0 0 28
Utes 0
7
14 24 45
at Rice-Eccles Stadium , Salt Lake City, Utah
Date : December 19, 2020Game time : 10:30 a.m. PST Game weather : Partly cloudy, 38 °F (3 °C)Game attendance : 0Referee : Mark DuddyTV : FS1
Game information
First Quarter WSU – Max Borghi 8-yard run (Blake Mazza kick), 4:34. Washington State 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 57 yards, 4:26. Second Quarter WSU – Deon McIntosh 11-yard run (Blake Mazza kick), 8:31. Washington State 14–0. Drive: 7 plays, 88 yards, 4:01.
UTAH – Britain Covey 91-yard pass from Jake Bentley (Jadon Redding kick), 3:37. Washington State 14–7. Drive: 3 plays, 95 yards, 0:58.
WSU – Jamire Calvin 8-yard pass from Jayden de Laura (Blake Mazza kick), 1:51. Washington State 21–7. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:46.
WSU – Jayden de Laura 3-yard run (Blake Mazza kick), 1:21. Washington State 28–7. Drive: 1 play, 3 yards, 0:04. Third Quarter UTAH – Ty Jordan 5-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 6:09. Washington State 28–14. Drive: 9 plays, 81 yards, 4:39.
UTAH – Bryan Thompson 9-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 0:55. Washington State 28–21. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:38. Fourth Quarter UTAH – Ty Jordan 33-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 12:01. Tied 28–28. Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 2:15.
UTAH – Ty Jordan 13-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 6:29. Utah 35–28. Drive: 2 plays, 13 yards, 0:12.
UTAH – Jadon Redding 44-yard field goal, 2:37. Utah 38–28. Drive: 7 plays, 30 yards, 3:37.
UTAH – Clark Phillips III 36-yard interception return (Jadon Redding kick), 2:06. Utah 45–28.
Top passers WSU – Jayden de Laura – 17/28, 204 yards, TD, int
UTAH – Jake Bentley – 7/14, 153 yards, TD, int Top rushers WSU – Max Borghi – 10 rushes, 95 yards, TD
UTAH – Ty Jordan – 22 rushes, 154 yards, 3 TD Top receivers WSU – Jamire Calvin – 7 receptions, 104 yards, TD
UTAH – Britain Covey – 6 receptions, 134 yards, TD
References
^ "Pac-12 announces resumption of football, basketball & winter sports seasons" . Pac-12 Conference . Retrieved September 24, 2020 .^ "Pac-12 Conference postpones all sport competitions through end of calendar year" . pac-12.com . August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020 .^ "Pac-12 announces resumption of football, basketball & winter sports seasons" . pac-12.com . September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 .^ Call, Jeff (December 18, 2020). "Utah Utes won't play in bowl game, season finale will be Saturday vs. Washington State" . Deseret News . Retrieved December 18, 2020 . ^ "2020 Pac-12 Football All-Conference honors and annual awards announced" . Pac-12 Conference. December 22, 2020. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020 .^ Bromberg, Nick (July 10, 2020). "Pac-12 follows Big Ten's lead and won't play non-conference games in 2020" . Yahoo! Sports . Retrieved July 10, 2020 . ^ "Pac-12 statement on Utah at Arizona State football game" . pac-12.com . Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020 .^ a b "Pac-12 statement on Utah at Washington football game" . pac-12.com . Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2020 .^ "Pac-12 statement on Washington at Washington State football game" . pac-12.com . November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020 .^ "Statement on the Cancellation of Utah's Game Versus Arizona" . utahutes.com . November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020 .^ "Utah Football Game at UCLA is Cancelled" . utahutes.com . November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020 .^ "2020 Pac-12 Football Schedule" . Twitter.com . Retrieved July 31, 2020 .
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