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The University of Utah Athletics
Saturday, September 21
Stillwater, Okla. / Boone Pickens Stadium
2 p.m.
University of Utah
22
at
19
Oklahoma State
Utah Football Controls The Cowboys, 22-19
9/21/2024 7:08 PM | Football
Stifling defense, Bernard's career-high 182 yards pave the way for another win
STILLWATER, Okla. – The University of Utah Football team controlled the ball and the game in its Big 12 debut, defeating the No. 14 Oklahoma State Cowboys, 22-19. Utah is 4-0 overall this season and 1-0 in league play.
The Utes trailed 3-0 in the first quarter, but took a 22-3 lead on three made field goals and two touchdowns from Brant Kuithe as time ticked away in the fourth quarter. Utah held the Cowboys to just 37 yards in the third quarter, but they would go on to rack up 129 in the fourth, cutting the score to 22-19 with 1:47 to go.
With less than two minutes to play, Utah's offense stayed calm and composed with Micah Bernard going for four yards on a third-and-three to seal the win for the Utes.
It was Utah's 24th win over an AP Top 25 opponent in the Kyle Whittingham era and the first win over a top-15 team on the road since 2018, when the Utes beat Stanford when they were ranked No. 14 (40-21).
After holding the ball for 42:26 of the game compared to OSU's 17:34, the Utes racked up 456 yards of total offense (207 pass, 249 rush), limiting the Cowboys to just 285 (237 pass, 48 rush). OSU was averaging 192 yards rushing entering the game with the Utes holding them to 48 total with just 3.2 yards per carry.
Utah's 249 rushing yards in the game was a season-high for the team, coming up big for the Utes in the conversion game. Utah had 20 first downs, also converting on five third downs and going 4-of-5 on fourth downs.
GAME LEADERS
It was another balanced game on offense with freshman Isaac Wilson going 17-of-29 passing for 207 yards and a touchdown, also adding a career-best 41 yards on the ground. His favorite target on the day was senior Dorian Singer with the receiver racking up a Utah-best seven catches for 95 yards.
Tight end Brant Kuithe also showed off his versatility once again for the Utes, catching four passes for 74 yards, adding a receiving touchdown and a one-yard rushing touchdown. On the ground, senior Micah Bernard had a career day, carrying the ball a career-high 25 times for a career-best 182 yards, averaging 7.3 yards per carry.
On defense, safety Tao Johnson led the squad with six total tackles, while linebacker Lander Barton had five. Senior Junior Tafuna also had four stops that included a tackle for loss with Van Fillinger recording three tackles along with Utah's only sack of the game.
In the secondary, the Utes had two interceptions from safety Alaka'i Gilman and cornerback Elijah Davis, while nickel back Smith Snowden notched a career-high three pass breakups along with his two tackles.
Cole Becker was 3-of-4 on field goals, knocking in a season-long 44-yarder in the fourth quarter to make it 16-3. Jack Bouwmeester was also integral for the Utes, averaging 42.3 yards per punt, landing two inside the 20-yard line.
STANDOUT STAT
With his 182 rushing yards against the Cowboys on the road, Micah Bernard has rushed for 100+ yards in three straight games, the first Ute to accomplish that feat since Ty Jordan in 2020.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
The Utes return to Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28 when they host the Arizona Wildcats. The game is set for an 8:15 p.m. MT kick on ESPN.
The Utes trailed 3-0 in the first quarter, but took a 22-3 lead on three made field goals and two touchdowns from Brant Kuithe as time ticked away in the fourth quarter. Utah held the Cowboys to just 37 yards in the third quarter, but they would go on to rack up 129 in the fourth, cutting the score to 22-19 with 1:47 to go.
With less than two minutes to play, Utah's offense stayed calm and composed with Micah Bernard going for four yards on a third-and-three to seal the win for the Utes.
It was Utah's 24th win over an AP Top 25 opponent in the Kyle Whittingham era and the first win over a top-15 team on the road since 2018, when the Utes beat Stanford when they were ranked No. 14 (40-21).
After holding the ball for 42:26 of the game compared to OSU's 17:34, the Utes racked up 456 yards of total offense (207 pass, 249 rush), limiting the Cowboys to just 285 (237 pass, 48 rush). OSU was averaging 192 yards rushing entering the game with the Utes holding them to 48 total with just 3.2 yards per carry.
Utah's 249 rushing yards in the game was a season-high for the team, coming up big for the Utes in the conversion game. Utah had 20 first downs, also converting on five third downs and going 4-of-5 on fourth downs.
GAME LEADERS
It was another balanced game on offense with freshman Isaac Wilson going 17-of-29 passing for 207 yards and a touchdown, also adding a career-best 41 yards on the ground. His favorite target on the day was senior Dorian Singer with the receiver racking up a Utah-best seven catches for 95 yards.
Tight end Brant Kuithe also showed off his versatility once again for the Utes, catching four passes for 74 yards, adding a receiving touchdown and a one-yard rushing touchdown. On the ground, senior Micah Bernard had a career day, carrying the ball a career-high 25 times for a career-best 182 yards, averaging 7.3 yards per carry.
On defense, safety Tao Johnson led the squad with six total tackles, while linebacker Lander Barton had five. Senior Junior Tafuna also had four stops that included a tackle for loss with Van Fillinger recording three tackles along with Utah's only sack of the game.
In the secondary, the Utes had two interceptions from safety Alaka'i Gilman and cornerback Elijah Davis, while nickel back Smith Snowden notched a career-high three pass breakups along with his two tackles.
Cole Becker was 3-of-4 on field goals, knocking in a season-long 44-yarder in the fourth quarter to make it 16-3. Jack Bouwmeester was also integral for the Utes, averaging 42.3 yards per punt, landing two inside the 20-yard line.
STANDOUT STAT
With his 182 rushing yards against the Cowboys on the road, Micah Bernard has rushed for 100+ yards in three straight games, the first Ute to accomplish that feat since Ty Jordan in 2020.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Isaac Wilson is the first Utah true freshman starting quarterback in recorded history to beat an AP ranked team. He is now 2-0 as the starter.
- Tight end Brant Kuithe lined up out of the wildcat early in the second quarter and rushed one-yard for his fifth career rushing touchdown. Kuithe's last rushing score was an 11-yard rushing touchdown at USC on Oct. 9, 2021.
- Kuithe's TD catch was also the 20th of his career, tying him with Carl Harry for third-most in program history and his 74 receiving yards push him past Dres Anderson and into sole possession of fifth place in school history in career yards through the air.
- Utah held the Cowboys to just 48 rushing yards, the 52nd time since 2016 that the Utes have held an opponent under 100 yards rushing.
- Utah has had two interceptions in back-to-back games for the first time since 2022 (2 vs. Arizona State, 4 vs. Oregon State).
The Utes return to Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28 when they host the Arizona Wildcats. The game is set for an 8:15 p.m. MT kick on ESPN.
Players Mentioned
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QB
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Head Coach Kyle Whittingham weekly press conference - 10.27.25
Monday, October 27
Utah: 53, Colorado: 7 | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Saturday, October 25
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - ESPN's Fran Fraschilla
Wednesday, October 22