PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS NOTES;
INSIDE THE GAME
PENN STATE MEETS UTAH IN ROSE BOWL GAME
• OPENING KICK: No. 9/7/11 Penn State takes on No. 10/7/8 Utah in the 109th Rose Bowl Game on January 2. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. on ESPN. The 2022 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.
• FIFTH ROSE BOWL APPEARANCE: Penn State will make its fifth Rose Bowl appearance in program history. PSU’s first ever bowl game was the 1923 Rose Bowl, a 14-3 loss against USC. Penn State returned to the Rose Bowl in 1995, defeating Oregon, 38-20, to complete an undefeated 1994 season. The Nittany Lions met USC in 2009 Rose Bowl, falling 38-24, and the 2017 Rose Bowl, falling 52-49.
• SERIES HISTORY: Penn State meets Utah for the first time in program history. The Utes are Penn State’s 32nd different bowl opponent and it’s the third-straight bowl (Arkansas in Outback Bowl; Memphis in Cotton Bowl) that Penn State has played a first-time opponent. The Nittany Lions are 25-14 against current members of the Pac-12, with the last meeting in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl vs. Washington, a 35-28 win.
• TOP TIGHT ENDS: The Penn State-Utah matchup features two of the top tight end groups in the country. Utah leads the country in tight end receptions (101), receiving yards (1,496), receiving touchdowns (16) and receiving yards per game (155.7). Penn State is second in receiving touchdowns (13) and is one of three FBS schools with four tight ends catching a touchdown pass this season, joining Oregon and San Jose State. Among Power Five schools, Penn State ranks fifth in tight end receiving yards per game (90.3), seventh in receiving yards (823) and eighth in receptions (64).
• FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Nicholas Singleton was named the Big Ten’s Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year. He became the fourth Nittany Lion to be named the conference freshman of the year, joining Christian Hackenberg (2013), Deion Barnes (2012) and Curtis Enis (1995, media). Singleton broke PSU’s freshman rushing touchdown record with 10. He ranks fourth among FBS freshmen with 941 total rushing yards and leads FBS freshmen averaging 6.32 yards per carry.
• THE OPPOSITION: Utah is 10-3 overall and won the Pac-12 championship after going 7-2 in conference action during the regular season. The Utes knocked off No. 4 USC, 47-24, in the Pac-12 Championship on December 2. Cameron Rising threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns, while Ja’Quinden Jackson rushed for 105 yards and a score and Micah Bernard added 88 rushing yards and a touchdown.
BREAKDOWN
Rushing
Penn State: Nicholas Singleton 149 for 941 yds (78.4 ypg; 6.3 ypc), 10 TD
Utah: Micah Bernard 95 for 474 yds (36.5 ypg; 5.0 ypc), 4 TD
Passing
Penn State: Sean Clifford 210-of-330, 2,543 yds (211.9 ypg), 22 TD/7 INT
Utah: Cameron Rising 241-of-364, 2,939 yds (244.9 ypg), 25 TD/7 INT
Receiving
Penn State: Mitchell Tinsley 45 for 528 yds (44.0 ypg; 11.7 ypc), 4 TD
Utah: Dalton Kincaid 70 for 890 yds (74.2 ypg; 12.7 ypr), 8 TD
Defense
Penn State: Ji’Ayir Brown 66 TT, 5.5 TFL, 3.0 SK, 3 INT, 2 FF, 1 FR, 3 PBU, 5 QBH
Utah: Cole Bishop 77 TT, 6.0 TFL, 1.5 SK,1 INT, 1 FR, 3 PBU, 2 QBH
NITTANY LIONS ON THE FIELD
• The Nittany Lions earned a New Year’s Day bowl berth against Arkansas in the Outback Bowl in 2021. With wins over No. 12/15 Wisconsin and No. 22/20 Auburn, Penn State tallied two wins over ranked teams within the first three games of the season for the first time in program history. The Nittany Lion defense allowed just 17.3 points per game in 2021, good for sixth in the country.
• In 2020, with the emergence of young skill players on offense, true freshmen accounted for 1,486 of Penn State’s 3,873 total yards (38 percent), marking a school record for most combined scrimmage yards by true freshmen in a single season.
• Penn State earned its third 11-win season in four years with an 11-2 record in 2019, including a win over No. 17 Memphis in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. The Nittany Lions posted their fourth-straight top 12 finish in the final CFP rankings, coming in 10th, and were ranked ninth in the final Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls to earn their 25th AP Top 10 finish. Franklin was a finalist for the Paul “Bear”
Bryant National Coach of the Year award for the second time at Penn State (2016) and third time in his head coaching career.
• In 2018, the Nittany Lions posted their third-straight season with at least nine wins with a 9-4 overall record, earning a berth in the VRBO Citrus Bowl. Penn State finished No. 12 in the final CFP rankings and No. 17 in the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls.
• Penn State climbed as high as No. 2 in the rankings in 2017 and appeared in a second-straight New Year’s Six bowl, earning a 35-28 win over No. 11 Washington in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. At 11-2, the Nittany Lions earned back-to-back 11-win seasons for the fifth time in program history and first time since 2008 and 2009. Penn State finished the season No. 8 in the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls and No. 9 in the final CFP rankings.
• Penn State surged in 2016, winning nine consecutive games en route to the Big Ten Championship, a Rose Bowl berth and an 11-3 overall record. Penn State finished the season ranked No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings and No. 7 in the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls. It was Penn State’s highest finish in the polls since 2005.The Lions claimed their fourth overall Big Ten Championship and first outright title since 1994 with a thrilling, 38-31 comeback win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. Franklin was honored as Sporting News National Coach of the Year and the Woody Hayes National Coach of the Year, as well as the Dave McLain Big Ten Coach of the Year and Associated Press Big Ten Coach of the Year.
• Franklin guided the Nittany Lions to a 7-6 record in 2015 and a berth in the TaxSlayer Bowl.
• Franklin’s first season in 2014 was bookended with a pair of thrilling victories for the Nittany Lions. It began with a final-play 26-24 victory over UCF in Dublin, Ireland, in Penn State’s first-ever international game and ended with a comeback, a 31-30 overtime win over Boston College in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium. Franklin became just the third Penn State coach to lead the team to at least seven wins in his first season, joining Dick Harlow (1915) and Bill O’Brien (2012), and he guided the Nittany Lions to a 4-0 start, joining Harlow as the only first-year Penn State coaches to win their initial four games
SCOUTING THE UTES
• Utah is 10-3 this season and coming off winning its second-straight Pac-12 Championship, knocking off No. 4 USC, 47-24.
• The Utes own two Top-10 wins this season, both over USC, defeating the Trojans, 43-42, on October 15.
• In the Pac-12 Championship game, the Utes tallied 533 yards, averaging 7.7 yards per play.
• Utah forced two takeaways against USC, who entered the game with four turnovers in the regular season.
• On offense, Utah ranks eighth in the country in scoring offense (40.0 ppg), 17th in total offense (472.7 ypg) and 10th in rushing offense (220.2). Utah leads the country in first downs (342) and ranks ninth in third down percentage (.497).
• QB Cameron Rising is averaging 244.9 passing yards per game and has thrown 25 touchdown passes.
• Four Utes have rushed for at least 400 yards this season.
• TE Dalton Kincaid ranks first among FBS tight ends in receptions (70), second in receiving yards (890) and tied for second in receiving touchdowns (8).
• On defense, the Utes are 24th in scoring defense (20.4 ppg), 19th in total defense (325.3 ypg) and 16th in rushing defense (107.0). Utah is also ninth in the country in third down percentage defense (29.6).
• CB Clark Phillips III ranks second in the FBS with six interceptions.
• LB Mohamoud Diabate leads Utah with 12.5 tackles for loss
LAST ROSE BOWL PENN STATE FALLS TO USC IN ROSE BOWL THRILLER
No. 5 Penn State running back Saquon Barkley totaled 306 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns and wide receiver Chris Godwin caught
nine passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns, but No. 9 USC rallied in the fourth quarter to win the 103rd annual Rose Bowl Game on a 46-yard field goal as time expired, 52-49.
With 101 combined points, it was the then-highest-scoring game in the storied history of the Rose Bowl, and both teams trailed by double-digit margins in the thriller. Penn State trailed USC by 13, 27-14, with 6:16 remaining in the second quarter, but scored touchdowns on four consecutive offensive plays from its final play of the first half to its first three plays of the second half, building a 42-27 lead.
Tight end Mike Gesicki caught an 11-yard touchdown pass to start the run and pull Penn State within six before the halftime break. Barkley criss-crossed the field and eluded multiple Trojan defenders for a 79- yard touchdown run on the Nittany Lions’ first offensive play of the third quarter, giving Penn State its first lead of the game, 28-27. On Penn State’s next possession, quarterback Trace McSorley connected with Godwin for a 72-yard touchdown pass down the sideline. A Brandon Bell interception that he returned 24 yards to the USC 3 then set up a McSorley touchdown run for a game-high 15-point advantage.
Both teams would trade touchdowns before the quarter ended, resulting in a 49-35 Penn State lead, but USC would score 17 points in the fourth quarter to inch back in front.
The USC defense was able to keep Penn State off of the scoreboard in the fourth quarter and defensive back Leon McQuay III intercepted a McSorley pass with 50 seconds remaining, setting up the Trojans’ game-winning field goal by Matt Boermeester. USC scored twice in the final 1:20 of the game.
BOWL NOTES
PENN STATE EARNS 52nd BOWL BERTH
• Penn State is making its 52nd bowl appearance, ranking 10th all-time.
• Head Coach James Franklin has guided his teams to a bowl appearance 11 times (3 at Vanderbilt; 8 at Penn State).
• Penn State’s 30 bowl victories are sixth nationally and lead all Big Ten schools.
• The Nittany Lions’ 60.8 winning percentage in bowl games (30-19-2 record) is No. 9 nationally among teams with at least 20 bowl appearances.
• Penn State made its first postseason appearance in 1923 when it traveled across the country to face USC in the Rose Bowl Game to cap off the 1922 season.
LIONS IN THE ROSE BOWL
• Penn State has a 1-3 record in four appearances in the Rose Bowl, participating in the ninth (1923), 81st (1995), 95th (2009) and 103rd (2017) editions of the game. Penn State fell to USC in 1923 and 2009, but defeated Oregon in 1995.
• The 1923 Rose Bowl between Penn State and USC was the first played in the current stadium in the Arroyo Seco location.
• The Nittany Lions brought proper closure to a landmark 1994 season by beating Oregon, 38-20, in the 1995 Rose Bowl. Having won their first Big Ten Championship in their second year of conference play, the Lions became the first Big Ten squad ever to earn a 12-0 record and the first Conference team to earn an unblemished record since Ohio State in 1968.
• It is the sixth California bowl game for Penn State. In addition to the four previous Rose Bowl appearances, Penn State won the 1989 Holiday Bowl in San Diego over BYU, 50-39. Penn State is 2-3 in California bowls.
PENN STATE IN JANUARY BOWL GAMES
• Penn State will be playing the program’s 33rd January bowl game and owns an 18-14 record in the month.
• This is Penn State’s sixth time playing on Jan. 2, and the third time in the last seven bowl appearances.
• Penn State is 2-3 on Jan. 2, winning the 1987 Fiesta Bowl and 1995 Rose Bowl.
THE DAY AFTER NEW YEAR’S
• The Tournament of Roses has had a “Never on Sunday” tradition since 1893, the first year since the beginning of the Tournament, that New Year’s Day fell on a Sunday. The Tournament wanted to avoid frightening horses that would be hitched outside churches and thus interfering with worship services so the events were moved to the next day, January 2. Though horses are no longer outside local churches, the tradition remains to this day.
• Penn State will be affected by the policy for the third time in five appearances. The Nittany Lions’ 1995 triumph over Oregon and 2017 game vs. USC were played on Monday, Jan. 2.
• The 2022 Rose Bowl will be the 15th Rose Bowl played on Monday, Jan. 2.
MONDAY BOWL GAMES
• Penn State will be playing in a Monday bowl for the 11th time in 52 bowl appearances.
• Penn State owns a 5-5 record in Monday bowl games, winning four of their last six.
• Penn State’s lone Rose Bowl win came on a Monday (Jan. 2, 1995).
Date Bowl Result
Jan. 1, 1923 Rose USC 14, Penn State 3
Dec. 19, 1959 Liberty Penn State 7, Alabama 0
Dec. 27, 1976 Gator Notre Dame 20, Penn State 9
Jan. 1, 1979 Sugar Alabama 14, Penn State 7
Dec. 26, 1983 Aloha Penn State 13, Washington 10
Jan. 2, 1995 Rose Penn State 38, Oregon 20
Jan. 1, 1996 Outback Penn State 43, Auburn 14
Jan. 1, 2007 Outback Penn State 20, Tennessee 10
Jan. 2, 2012 TicketCity Houston 30, Penn State 14
Jan. 2, 2017 Rose USC 52, Penn State 49
Jan. 2, 2022 Rose TBD
TOP PENN STATE BOWL PERFORMANCES IN THE ROSE BOWL
• RB Ki-Jana Carter set a Penn State bowl record with three rushing touchdowns in the 1995 Rose Bowl. He also rushed for 156 yards, which ranks third on the Penn State bowl ledger.
• Carter’s 83-yard touchdown run in the game still stands as a Penn State bowl record, and Chafie Fields’ 84-yard run in the 1997 Fiesta Bowl is the only longer run by a Nittany Lion in a bowl game.
• QB Daryll Clark set a Penn State then-bowl record with 273 passing yards in the 2009 Rose Bowl against USC. However, Christian Hackenberg shattered the record with 371 passing yards in the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl.
• Clark also completed 21 passes in the same game to tie Michael Robinson’s record set in the 2006 Orange Bowl. Again however, Hackenberg topped the record with 24 completions in the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl.
• QB Kerry Collins’ 63.3 percent completion percentage in the 1995 Rose Bowl ranks third in Penn State bowl history.
• LB NaVorro Bowman’s five tackles for loss in the 2009 Rose Bowl still stands as a Penn State bowl record.
• DT Todd Atkins and LB Phil Yeboah-Kodie had two sacks each in the 1995 Rose Bowl, which places both in a seven-way tie for the Penn State bowl record.
• RB Saquon Barkley’s 194 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 2017 Rose Bowl both rank second in Penn State history. His 194 rushing yards were a Penn State bowl record before Journey Brown’s 202 yards in the 2019 Cotton Bowl.
• QB Trace McSorley’s four passing touchdowns in the 2017 Rose Bowl are tied for the Penn State bowl record and his 72 yard touchdown pass to WR Chris Godwin in that game are tied for both the longest completion and longest touchdown pass in program bowl history.
• Godwin hauled in nine receptions for 187 yards, both PSU bowl records, and a PSU bowl record-tying two touchdowns in the 2017 Rose Bowl.
PENN STATE B1G IN ROSE BOWL
• Penn State’s Rose Bowl appearance will be its fourth since joining that Big Ten in 1993, which ranks the Nittany Lions tied for third in the Big Ten Conference.
• Since 1993, Wisconsin leads all Big Ten schools with seven appearances, while Michigan ranks second with five.
• Penn State’s fourth appearance ties it with Ohio State. Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State and Iowa have all made one appearance
PENN STATE VS. PAC-12
• Penn State is 24-14 all-time against the current alignment of the Pac-12 and 5-5 in bowl games.
1st Last
Pac-12 Opponent Record Meeting Meeting
Arizona 1-0 1999 1999
Arizona State 1-0 1977 1977
California 3-1 1961 1966
Colorado 1-1 1969 1970
Oregon 3-1 1960 1994
Oregon State 1-0 2008 2008
USC 4-6 1923 2017
Stanford 4-1 1973 1992
UCLA 2-4 1963 1968
Utah – – –
Washington 3-0 1921 1983
Washington State 2-0 1947 1948
UTAH UTES NOTES:
THE GAME
For the second-straight season, the No. 8 University of Utah Football team is set for a top-15 battle in the Rose Bowl, taking on the No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions on Monday, Jan. 2. The 109th Rose Bowl Game will kick off at 2 p.m. PT/3 p.m. MT on ESPN.
GOING BOWLING
For the 16th time under head coach Kyle Whittingham, the Utes became bowl eligible and will play in their fourth New Year’s Six Bowl, which includes back-to-back years in the Rose Bowl. Utah is 17-7 all-time in bowl games with Whittingham holding an 11-4 record, which ranks second among active coaches and inside the top-10 all-time. Utah is 3-1 in New Year’s Six bowls, beating Pittsburgh (35-7) in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl and Alabama (31-17) in the 2009 Sugar Bowl.
NEED TO KNOWS
• Utah became the third team in Pac-12 Conference history to win back-to-back Pac-12 Championship games (Utah, 2022, ’21; Stanford, 2012, ’13; Oregon, 2019; ’20).
• The Utes have seven 10-win seasons under Kyle Whittingham (2008, ’09, ’10, ’15, ’19, ’21, ’22).
• Utah has nine consecutive years of winning seasons, including 2022, dating back to 2014. The Utes have finished with a winning record in 16 of Whittingham’s 18 years.
• Utah is 25-15 in games when ranked in the CFP Poll since the CFP’s inception in 2014.
• The Utes led the Pac-12 this season in first downs offense (342), rushing defense (107.0), scoring defense (20.4), team sacks (2.92) and tackles for loss (6.4), time of possession (33:33), total defense (325.3) and total offense (472.7).
• Utah is one of five Power Five teams that rank in the top-20 in both total offense and defense with Utah ranking 17th and 19th in the FBS, respectively.
• The Utes are only allowing 0.69 sacks per game this year, which ranks sixth in the FBS.
• Utah has kept opponents to under 100 yards rushing in five of the last six games and seven times overall this season.
• Utah has scored 30+ points in 10 of its 13 games this season, ranking eighth in the FBS in scoring offense with 40.0 points per game.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
THE MASTERMIND
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Andy Ludwig is in his fourth year of his second full-time stint on the Utah coaching staff in 2022. Since Ludwig’s return in 2019, Utah has produced 1,629 points (35.4 per game), 196 touchdowns and 20,236 yards of total offense through 46 games, only committing 57 turnovers.
• Through 13 games in 2022, Utah leads the Pac-12 in first downs offense (342), also ranking second in the FBS. Utah is averaging 26.3 first downs per game.
• Extending drives has not been an issue for the Utes this season, ranking eighth nationally in third down conversions (.497). Since 2019, the Utes have converted 268 of 574 of their third down attempts (.467) which is the seventh-best mark in the NCAA.
• Averaging 220.2 rushing yards per game, the Utes rank 10th in the FBS and second in the Pac-12 in rushing offense.
• In the last 46 games that Ludwig has been at the helm of the offense, Utah has reached the 200-yard rushing mark in 25 games, including Utah’s season-high 383 rushing yards at Colorado (11/26/22).
• In the last five games (Arizona, Stanford, at Oregon, at Colorado, vs. USC), Utah has averaged 269.4 rushing yards per game, scoring 16 of its 37 rushing touchdowns during that span (3.2 per game).
• Utah is averaging 40.0 points per game this season, which ranks eighth in the FBS.
• Utah has reached the 30-point mark in 10 of its 13 games this year, including seven games with 40+ points.
• Utah’s seven games with 40+ points is the most in a season since 2004 when the Utes had nine on their way to a Fiesta Bowl win over Pittsburgh.
• Utah eclipsed the 50-point mark twice in 2022, giving Utah 18 games under Kyle Whittingham. Utah’s 63 points at Colorado was the most in a conference game for Utah since joining the Pac-12 while its 73 points against Southern Utah was the most in a game since 1973, ranking as the third-most in program history.
• The Utes’ 38 points in the second quarter against Southern Utah (9/10/22) was the most by Utah in any quarter since at least 1968 and the most in a quarter by any Pac-12 program in 2022.
• Utah has outscored its opponents 520-265 this season, including 190-63 in the second quarter and 136-38 in the third.
• The Utes are averaging 472.7 yards on offense per game, which ranks 17th in the FBS.
• Utah has nine games this season with over 440 yards of total offense and is 9-0 on the season when they outgain their opponents.
• In the last four games, Utah has averaged 508.7 yards of offense per game, hitting the 500+ yards mark in three of those games (514 vs. Stanford, 662 at Colorado, 533 vs. USC).
QB1 CONTINUES TO RISE
A semifinalist for both the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien Award, junior quarterback Cameron Rising has cemented himself as the “alpha dog” for the Utes. Captain Cam, a two-time All-Pac-12 selection, has played in 26 career games with 24 starts, holding an 18-5 win-loss record as the starter to tie for fifth all-time at Utah in QB wins.
• Rising ranks ninth overall in ESPN’s Total QBR, earning a rating of 82.9.
• In the 12 games he has appeared in this season, Rising is 241- of-364 passing for 2,939 yards (7 INT, 25 TDs), adding 68 carries for 409 yards (6 TDs), one catch for nine yards and one punt for 35 yards.
• His career-high 25 passing touchdowns ranks 18th in the FBS and fourth in the Pac-12. It is also the most passing touchdowns by a Utah quarterback since 2008 (Brian Johnson, 27), ranking sixth all-time in program history.
• Rising has had 14 games in his career with multiple passing touchdowns, including in eight this season. He set a new career-high with four against San Diego State (9/17/22).
• This season, Rising has completed 60-percent or higher of his passes in 10 games, including four in the 70-percent or higher range. He ranks 21st in the FBS and third in the Pac-12 in completion percentage (.662).
• He completed 89.5-percent of his passes in Utah’s win over Colorado (11/26/22), setting a school record for single-game completion percentage when he went 17-of-19 passing.
• Since 2020, Rising has completed 448-of-690 of his passes (.649) with his 64.9 completion percentage ranking fourth all-time at Utah.
• Rising has 14 games in his career with 200+ passing yards, which includes nine this season. His 14 career games hitting the 200-yard mark ranks ninth all-time with his nine games this season tying for sixth.
• Rising opened the 2022 season by recording four straight 200+ yard passing games, becoming the first Utah QB since Travis Wilson (2013) to accomplish the feat.
• He broke the 5,000 career passing yards mark this season, holding steady at 5,477 through 26 games, which sits at seventh all-time at Utah. His 2,939 yards in 2022 ranks ninth.
• Included in his 200+ passing yard games this season was a 300-yard game and his first-career 400-yard game, coming against USC in the regular season (10/15/22).
• In Utah’s regular season win over the Trojans, Rising was 30- of-44 passing for a career-high 415 yards and two touchdowns, marking the first time a Ute quarterback had passed for over 400 yards since 2005 (Brian Johnson, 417 vs. San Diego State).
• Between his passing (415) and rushing totals (60), Rising was responsible for 475 total yards on offense against USC. It was the most total yards of offense for a Utah quarterback since Johnson against SDSU in 2005, also ranking fifth all-time.
• Rising’s three rushing touchdowns against USC in the regular season was also the most by a Ute QB since Travis Wilson had three rushing scores vs. Colorado State in the 2014 Las Vegas Bowl.
• In the last three games against USC (12/2/22, 10/15/22, 10/9/21), Rising has averaged 343.7 passing yards, 24.6 completions with a 71-percent completion rate. He has also scored eight passing touchdowns and four rushing scores through those three games.
• In his 26 career games at Utah, he has completed 20-or-more passes in nine games, including in six this season. He had a career-high 30 completions in Utah’s win over USC in the regular season.
• After starting the game at UCLA (10/8/22) 1-for-5 passing, Rising completed 13 of his next 15 passes, including a stretch of eight straight completions during the second quarter. He finished the game with 23 completions.
• Rising also put together a string of 13 straight completed passes in the regular season finale against Colorado (11/26/22).
• This season, Rising has 3,357 yards of total offense (31 TDs), giving him 6,383 yards and 57 touchdowns in his career.
• In 2022, Rising ranks 19th in the FBS in points responsible for (190), averaging 15.8 points per game. His 31 total touchdowns this season ranks third all-time at Utah.
• Rising has 77 plays for 20-or-more yards in his career at Utah, including 39 this season (34 pass, 5 rush).
• He has four passes this season for 50+ yards with three going for touchdowns.
• In the 26 games he has appeared in at Utah, the Utes have produced 667 first downs with Rising accounting for 324 (48%).
• In back-to-back games this season, Rising accounted for 20-or-more first downs at UCLA (20 total – 14 pass, 6 rush) and against USC (22 total – 18 pass, 4 rush).
• His 897 career rushing yards is fourth in program history in rushing yards by a quarterback, becoming just the fourth Ute QB to rush for 850+ yards.
TIGHT END U
Over the past several years, the Utes’ depth at tight end has earned the program the title “Tight End U,” and this season has been no different.
• Utah’s tight ends have accounted for 40-percent of Utah’s catches (109-of-270), 44-percent of its receiving yards (1,460-of-3,282) and 58 – percent of its touchdown catches (17-of-29) this season. Six different tight ends this season have recorded a catch (Dalton Kincaid, Thomas Yassmin, Brant Kuithe, Munir McCalin, Logan Kendall, Taniela Pututau) with four notching at least one touchdown (Kincaid, 8; Yassmin, 5; Kuithe, 3; Kendall, 1).
• The tight end crew has scored at least one touchdown in six of the last seven games.
• Starting in 2021 against Colorado (11/26), Utah had a stretch of eight straight games with a tight end recording a receiving touchdown with
the streak ending this year at UCLA.
• Against Washington State in 2022, the tight ends tallied 11 out of the Utes’ 17 receptions (64%).
• In Utah’s win over Southern Utah, the tight ends accounted for four of the touchdowns in the game, the first time Utah’s tight ends have
combined for three-or-more receiving touchdowns in a game since at least 1996.
• In the first two games of the season, Kincaid and Kuithe both had a 100-yard receiving contest (Kuithe, 105 vs. Florida; Kincaid, 107 vs. Southern Utah, marking the first time since 2017 that Utah has had a 100-yard receiver in the first two games of the season
RUNNING BACK CREW
In the past two seasons, Utah has recorded two of the highest rushing yard totals in program history with the 2,863 yards through 13 games in
2022 ranking fourth all-time. Utah has also set the school record in rushing touchdowns in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history, rushing for 37 total in 2021 and 2022.
• Utah is 8-1 this season when they outrush its opponents, having hit the 200-yard mark in seven of the 13 games.
• The Utes have scored at least one rushing touchdown in every game this season and are averaging 5.5 yards per attempt.
• Utah’s rushing offense is ranked 10th in the FBS and second in the Pac12, averaging 220.2 yards per game.
• Utah’s 37 rushing touchdowns this season is also tied for fourth nationally.
• Five different Utah running backs have recorded at least one rushing touchdown this year, led by Ja’Quinden Jackson with eight.
• At Colorado this season, the Utes produced a season-high 383 yards rushing, averaging 8.9 yards per rush with five rushing scores. The Utes finished the game with three running backs having at least 10 carries in the game.
• Since the 2020 season, Utah has had 12 games with a running back recording 20 or more carries in a game.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
LOCKING DOWN ON THE GROUND
One of the longtime hallmarks of Scalley’s defense has been a consistently strong effort against the run game. Since taking on the defensive coordinator role in 2016, the Utes have allowed 111.1 rushing yards per game and 83 touchdowns. Both are the best marks in the Pac-12 during that seven-year span, ranking fifth and sixth, respectively, among all Power 5 programs.
Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed (Power 5, since 2016)
- Georgia 102.0
- Wisconsin 102.6
- Alabama 104.6
- Clemson 110.0
- Utah 111.1
• The Utah defense has kept seven opponents under 100 rushing yards this season, most recently USC in the Pac-12 Championship (56). It’s the most in the Pac-12 and tied for fifth-most in the Power Five (Georgia leads with 11).
• The Utes held Arizona State to six rushing yards in Week 4, tied for the fifth-fewest that a Power Five team has allowed of another Power Five program this season. It also went down as the seventh-fewest for a Utah opponent all-time, aided by minus 24 rushing yards for the Sun Devils in the first quarter.
• In Utah’s 86 games since 2016, the Utes have a Pac-12-leading 43 performances allowing 100 yards or less on the ground—it is 11 more than the next-closest program (Washington has 31). The Utes are 35-8 in those games, with wins in 13 of the last 14.
• Under Scalley, the Utes have led the Pac-12 in rushing defense five times in the final rankings (2016, ’18, ’19 ’20 and ’21), also ranking third in the nation in 2019 and fifth in 2018.
TAKING IT AWAY
Utah has gained 24 turnovers (12 INT, 12 fumble recoveries) this season. It trails only USC (28) for the Pac-12 lead and is tied for fourth in the Power Five. The Utes have produced a defensive takeaway in 10 of 13 games this season.
• The Utes’ 12 fumble recoveries are tied for the Pac-12 lead, and are the most for the team since 2017 (13). It’s also the most interceptions since the 2019 squad reeled in 14 picks.
• The four recoveries in Week 10 vs. Arizona were the most in game for Utah since the team claimed six fumbles in a game at BYU on Sept. 17, 2011.
• Utah’s 12 interceptions as a team this season tie for third in the Pac-12. Five different Utes own a pick on the year: Clark Phillips III (6); R.J. Hubert (3); one each for Cole Bishop, Karene Reid and Junior Tafuna.
• For Bishop (at Arizona State), Hubert (vs. Southern Utah) and Tafuna (vs. Southern Utah), it was each player’s first career interception. Hubert’s first career pick came back 39 yards for a touchdown.
• Hubert put an early exclamation on the Pac-12 Championship win over USC, coming up with his third career interception and returning it 29 yards. It also went as Utah’s third interception in the last two Pac-12 Championship games (the Utes had two vs. Oregon in 2021).
FOUR QUARTERS, TIMES FOUR
The Utes enter the Rose Bowl Game as the only Pac-12 team this season to hold four opponents under 200 yards of total offense (85 vs. Southern Utah; 173 vs. San Diego State; 177 vs. Stanford; 185 at Colorado). No other Pac-12 defense has more than one game this season with 200 yards or less allowed.
• In games since 2019, three of the five lowest total yards allowed by a Pac-12 defense belong to Utah. Five of the top 10 performances in that timeframe are owned by the Utes, with Arizona, Arizona State, Cal and Washington (2) combining for the other five.
Fewest Total Yards of Offense Allowed (P12 Teams, Since 2019)
- Utah vs. Cal (2019) 83
- Utah vs. Southern Utah (2022) 85
- Cal vs. Colorado (2021) 104
- Utah vs. Idaho State (2019) 116
- Washington vs. Oregon State (2019) 119
SACK LAKE CITY
Utah’s defensive line has become known for its physicality and production of NFL talent with the motto “next man up” always coming into play, as the line has one of the largest groups of returners on the team in 2022. Like several other position groups on the team, the unit boasts contributions from veterans and newcomers alike. Junior Tafuna (DT) and Gabe Reid (DE) are among the experienced vets up front, with Reid transferring to Utah following a four-year career at Stanford.
• With a Pac-12-leading 2.92 sacks per game, the Utes are coming off a seven-sack-effort in the Pac-12 Championship vs. USC—tying a Utah season-high and the most in the Pac-12 Championship game since it was established in 2011. Utah also racked up 11 tackles for loss against the Trojans, a season-high.
• In light of a season-ending injury for headliner Van Fillinger (DE), the Utes have looked to fellow ends Jonah Elliss, Connor O’Toole and Miki Suguturaga – plus Reid – to take on larger roles up front. Elliss has started eight games this season, with Suguturaga (8), O’Toole (4) and Reid (4) also owning starts in 2022.
• The Utes’ defensive line has been well-represented in the arena of postseason awards; defensive tackle Simote Pepa was named a CFN Freshman All-American, while Elliss (coaches), Pepa (AP), Reid (AP) and Tafuna (coaches) each were named All-Pac-12.
• A testament to depth, eight defensive linemen and 14 total Utes have at least 1.0 sack on the season. Utah is the only Pac-12 team and one of just seven Power Five programs to have 12 or more players record a sack.
• Aided by 38.5 tackles for loss (of 83 total) coming from the defensive line this season, Utah is averaging 6.4 TFL per game; highest in the Pac-12.
• The Utes have finished in the top-three in the Pac-12 in sacks and tackles for loss three times under defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley, leading the league in both in 2021 (97 TFL, 42 sacks) and 2016 (101 TFL, 43 sacks).
• Reid’s team-best 5.5 sacks include a combined 3.0 vs. USC in the regular season and Pac-12 Championship meetings. It highlighted seven sacks for Utah in the title game and four more in October; no other team had more than three sacks vs. USC this season.
• Reid, the older brother of Utah linebacker Karene Reid, played in 42 games with 24 starts at Stanford from 2018-21 before coming to Utah in Spring 2022. He owns 15.5 sacks in 54 career games, third-most of all active Pac-12 players. Reid led the Cardinal with 10.0 TFL in 2021, adding an assisted sack, eight QB hurries and his first career interception.
• Tafuna had a breakout freshman campaign in 2021, taking home Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and AP Pac-12 All-Conference Second Team. Called upon at left tackle during Week 3 last season, Tafuna has since started 24 consecutive games. Tafuna’s 4.5 sacks were third-most among freshmen in the Pac-12 in 2021, complemented by one pass breakup and one fumble recovery.
• Both Elliss and Pepa (DT) have enjoyed huge steps forward from their rookie seasons in 2021, each now with 6.0 tackles for loss. Pepa has starred down the stretch of this season with 5.5 TFL (4.0 sacks) in the last four games.
• O’Toole, who converted to defensive end from wide receiver in Spring 2022, has played in all 13 games with four starts. O’Toole is averaging 2.7 tackles and has contributed nine third-down stops on the year.
• Utah’s 28 sacks during regular season conference play ranked No. 2 in the Pac-12, with 14.5 coming from the defensive line. It includes a season-high seven sacks for the team in the Week 11 win over Stanford. Three different defensive linemen factored into the sack total vs. Stanford, with Simote Pepa (career-high 2.0), Jonah Elliss (career-high 1.5) and Keanu Tanuvasa (first career sack) each contributing.
• At the time of his injury, Fillinger was atop the team with 5.0 sacks. He led all freshmen in the Pac-12 in sacks (5.5) in 2021, bursting on the scene with a three-sack outing in Utah’s win over Washington State. It made Fillinger the first freshman in program history to have 3.0 sacks in a game.
TURNING DEFENSE TO POINTS
Linebacker Karene Reid’s 11-yard scoop-and-score against Oregon marked Utah’s Pac-12-leading fourth defensive touchdown of the 2022 season. It also includes interception return touchdowns for Clark Phillips III (2) and R.J. Hubert.
• The four defensive scores for the Utes are the most for the team since the 2019 squad had five.
• Utah is one of four Power Five teams to have four-plus defensive touchdowns in 2022. Iowa and Pitt leads the Power Five with five.
• Reid’s scoop-and-score was the first by a Ute since Nephi Sewell ran back 23 yards on a fumble return touchdown vs. USC on Nov. 21, 2020.
PICK-SIX STREAK
Including 2022, the Utah defense has gone 19 straight seasons with an interception returned for a touchdown. It dates back to 2004, the senior year of current defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley’s playing career as a safety.
• This run of annual interceptions returned for a touchdown is the longest active streak in FBS football, and is the second-longest such streak since at least 1996. Only Arizona State (20 seasons; 2000-19) has had a longer run in that time.
• Utah’s three interception return touchdowns in 2022 have come from Clark Phillips III (vs. Oregon State; at UCLA) and R.J. Hubert (vs. Southern Utah).
• Jonathan Fanene and Steve Fifita scored Utah’s pick-sixes in 2004 to begin the streak.
Power 5 – Consecutive Seasons With a Pick-Six
Team Consecutive Seasons Year Started
*Utah 19 2004
*Iowa 15 2008
*Ohio State 11 2012
*Team has an interception return touchdown(s) during 2022
ON THE KICKING GAME
Utah historically has a tradition of outstanding special teams, and a mix of veterans and newcomers are working to return the Utes to that standard. Michigan State transfer Jack Bouwmeester has taken the reins at punter, while Jordan Noyes is leading the charge on kickoffs and placekicking. Long snapper JT Greep and holder Michael Williams are also back in 2022.
• Bouwmeester, an Australia native, won the starting punter job coming out of fall camp. He has punted 34 times this season, including a long of 48 yards in the season-opener at Florida. Rated the No. 6 punting prospect by 247Sports, Bouwmeester was a member of the Michigan State program in 2019 and ’20.
• He orchestrated a fake punt during the first quarter in Week 11 vs. Stanford. Going on the books for 14 yards and a first down, it was Utah’s first successful fake since Mitch Wishnowsky pulled the trick in 2018.
• Noyes, who walked on in 2020, had multi-field goal games at Florida and Arizona State, seeing a career-long 43-yard make in The Swamp. He is 6-of-8 field goal attempts this season as well as perfect on 31 PATs. His first bowl action came last year vs. Ohio State, handling kickoffs.
• The 30-year old Noyes is the oldest known kicker in FBS football in 2022. The year he was born, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham was the defensive coordinator at Idaho State.
• During the Southern Utah game in Week 2, Noyes contributed 13 points with his leg—in part thanks to a 10-for-10 stat line on PAT attempts. His 10 points via PAT tied Noyes for the single-game program record, first set by Andy Phillips in 2013.
• Williams, primarily serving as Utah’s holder, also chipped in on punt responsibilities down the stretch of 2021. He booted eight punts last season, twice resetting his career-long during the Pac-12 Championship Game with punts of 53 yards and, later, 54 yards.
• Greep transitioned to the starting snapper role midway through 2021 after a season-ending injury to longtime starter Keegan Markgraf. Greep has contributed 187 snaps (51 punt, 24 FG, 112 PAT) during his 22 games played at Utah.
ON THE RETURN GAME
Wide receivers Money Parks and Devaughn Vele have stepped into the kick and punt return roles, respectively, for Utah in 2022. It comes as the duo look to leave their own marks as returners on the heels of Britain Covey’s career with the Utes.
• Vele’s 9.5-yard average on punt returns is the fourth-best mark in the Pac-12 and No. 16 in the FBS. His 110 all-purpose yards (23 PR, 87 receiving) at UCLA were a career-high. Vele also returned a season-long 23-yard punt in the game vs. USC.
• Parks has returned two kickoffs this season, with a career-long going for 32 yards in the regular season finale at Colorado.
• The Utes have also put up one of the best efforts in the country in punt coverage. Just five of Jack Bouwmeester’s punts have been returned, and when they are, opponents have netted just three total yards. That average breaks down to a mere 0.6 yards allowed per return, tops in the Pac-12 and leading all bowl-eligible teams.
