Utah gets a 28-14 win over UCF in the season finale

The Utah Utes ended their 2024 football season on a high note, ending a seven-game losing streak with a 28-14 victory over the UCF Knights in Orlando. Known for their defensive prowess, the Utes leaned heavily on their defense, scoring two touchdowns after turnovers, including a game-tying 60-yard pick-six by Zemaiah Vaughn in the second quarter. The win improved Utah’s record to 5-7 overall and 2-7 in Big 12 play, despite the team falling out of bowl eligibility for the first time since 2020.

The Utes’ defense set the tone early by recovering a fumble by UCF quarterback Dylan Rizk on the first drive of the game. This led to a 37-yard field goal by Cole Becker, giving Utah an early lead. Midway through the second quarter, Vaughn intercepted Rizk and returned it for a touchdown, giving Utah a 10-0 lead. While UCF responded with an 89-yard touchdown drive capped by a 5-yard run by RJ Harvey, Utah managed to keep the momentum going. A 24-yard field goal from Trey Coleman extended the lead to 13-7 at halftime.

In the second half, Utah’s offense showed flashes of life. Luke Bottari, Utah’s fourth starting quarterback of the season, connected with Landen King for a 15-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to make it 21-7. Bottari finished the game completing 13 of 20 passes for 111 yards. Micah Bernard also contributed significantly to the offense, rushing for 87 yards on 22 carries. Ultimately, however, the Utes’ defense secured the victory. Smith Snowden intercepted a pass from UCF backup quarterback EJ Colson and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, extending Utah’s lead to 28-7.

Despite being outgained 379-198 in total yards, Utah capitalized on UCF’s mistakes, forcing three turnovers and turning them into 21 points. Meanwhile, RJ Harvey was a bright spot for UCF, rushing for 119 yards and breaking the program record for career touchdowns with his 47th. However, UCF finished the season on a poor note, losing eight of its last nine games with a score of 4-8.

The win gave Utah a small bright spot in an otherwise challenging season plagued by injuries, particularly at quarterback. As the Utes look ahead to the offseason, questions are emerging about the future of head coach Kyle Whittingham, who has indicated he will retire after 20 seasons with the program.