SI

Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham Reacts to Upset Victory Over USC

The Utes won on a night they played with heavy hearts.

Jelani Scott

In this story:

No. 20 Utah put their stamp on a wild day of college football Saturday night with a thrilling 43–42 upset victory over No. 7 USC.

The Utes rallied from an early 21–7 deficit to tie the game, 35–35, early in the fourth quarter before USC pulled ahead with a 20-yard Caleb Williams touchdown pass. The Utes took over on their own 25-yard line with 6:04 left in regulation and marched 75 yards down the field for a one-yard TD run and a game-winning two-point conversion by quarterback Cameron Rising

“It’s incredible,” Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said on the broadcast after the game. “And on a night where we’re honoring our two fallen teammates and to have it go down in this fashion, this is one of the most exciting games in Rice-Eccles Stadium history.”

As Whittingham noted, Utah entered the night with heavy hearts as the team donned helmets designed in honor of former players Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe. Jordan, a running back, died in Dec. 2020 and Lowe, a cornerback, in Sept. 2021; the program has since retired both players’ No. 22 jerseys after Lowe had changed his number from 2 to 22 to honor his fallen friend.

Utah’s emotional night ended in thrilling fashion in the closing minutes as Rising rose to the occasion with the Utes fighting to hand USC its first loss of the season. After Rising scored on a one-yard plunge to pull within one, Whittingham elected to go for two instead of kicking the extra-point attempt and again called Rising’s number. The junior QB would deliver with a gutsy scamper into the end zone to cap a career-best performance and give Utah the deciding edge, much to delight of the roaring crowd at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Rising dominated the Trojans en route to 415 yards and two touchdowns on 30 of 44 attempts; he also added 11 carries for 60 yards and another three scores. Tight end Dalton Kincaid also turned in a career night with 16 receptions for 234 yards and TD, the most for a Ute since 1988.

Utah’s emphatic win marked another thrilling matchup on a Saturday slate loaded with classics between AP top-25 opponents. 

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Saturday was the first day in college football history with three AP-ranked matchups where both teams scored 40-plus points (No. 6 Tennessee defeated No. 3 Alabama, 52-49; No. 13 TCU defeated No 8 Oklahoma State, 43-40).

More College Football Coverage:

For more Utah Utes coverage, go to All Utes. 

Published
Jelani Scott
JELANI SCOTT

Home/College