2024 Utah Utes Football Team

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 #12 in the initial AP poll. During a non-conference win at home against Baylor, 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:

Team additions

Transfer portal

2024 recruiting class

Big 12 media poll

The preseason poll was released on July 2, 2024.

*First place votes in ()

Schedule

Game summaries

vs. Southern Utah (FCS)

vs. Baylor

at Utah State (Battle of the Brothers)

at No. 14 Oklahoma State

vs Arizona

at Arizona State

vs TCU

at Houston

vs No. 9 BYU (Holy War)

at No. 17 Colorado (Rumble in the Rockies)

vs No. 22 Iowa State

at UCF

Rankings

Roster

Notes

References

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