The 2020 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Utes were led by 16th-year head coach Kyle Whittingham and played their home games at Rice–Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, as members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference.
On August 11, 2020, the Pac-12 suspended all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 24, the Pac-12 announced that football teams would return to play a seven-game conference-only season beginning on November 6, with the conference championship game scheduled for December 18.
On December 18, with a 2–2 record and one game left to play, the Utes announced that they would not pursue a bid to a bowl game. The Utes won their final game, finishing their season with a 3–2 record. Running back Ty Jordan was voted the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
Schedule Utah had games scheduled against BYU, Montana State, and Wyoming, but canceled these games on July 10 due to the Pac-12 Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On November 24, Utah's scheduled game at Arizona State for November 29 was canceled after a COVID-19 outbreak within the Arizona State program. The Pac-12 then announced that Utah would instead play at Washington on November 28; the Huskies' scheduled game at Washington State had also been canceled after Washington State had a COVID-19 outbreak.
Original 2020 Utah Utes schedule Date Opponent Site September 3 BYU* Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT (Holy War) September 12 Montana State* Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT September 19 at Wyoming* War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WY September 26 at California California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA October 2 USC Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT October 10 at Washington State Martin Stadium • Pullman, WA October 17 Washington Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT October 29 at UCLA Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA November 7 Arizona Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT November 14 Oregon State Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT November 21 at Arizona State Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ November 28 at Colorado Folsom Field • Boulder, CO (Rumble in the Rockies)
Rankings
Personnel
Game summaries No. 20 USC
Statistics USCUTAH First downs 17 17 Total yards 357 327 Rushing yards 93 111 Passing yards 264 216 Turnovers 2 5 Time of possession 30:41 29:19 Team Category Player StatisticsUSC Passing Kedon Slovis 24/35, 264 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Vavae Malepeai 20 rushes, 62 yards, TD Receiving Bru McCoy 5 receptions, 66 yardsUtah Passing Jake Bentley 16/28, 171 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Ty Jordan 7 rushes, 32 yards Receiving Bryan Thompson 2 receptions, 48 yards
At Washington
Statistics UTAHWASH First downs 19 20 Total yards 359 360 Rushing yards 215 88 Passing yards 144 272 Turnovers 4 3 Time of possession 34:24 25:36 Team Category Player StatisticsUtah Passing Jake Bentley 16/23, 144 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Ty Jordan 10 rushes, 97 yards Receiving Bryan Thompson 3 receptions, 65 yards, TDWashington Passing Dylan Morris 23/38, 272 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Sean McGrew 7 rushes, 36 yards Receiving Cade Otton 8 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD
Oregon State
Statistics ORSTUTAH First downs 22 21 Total yards 335 403 Rushing yards 133 229 Passing yards 202 174 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 24:15 35:45 Team Category Player StatisticsOregon State Passing Chance Nolan 20/38, 202 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jack Colletto 1 rush, 40 yards Receiving Tyjon Lindsey 3 receptions, 37 yardsUtah Passing Jack Bentley 18/27, 174 yards, TD Rushing Ty Jordan 27 rushes, 167 yards, TD Receiving Brant Kuithe 8 receptions, 76 yards
At No. 21 Colorado
Statistics UTAHCOLO First downs 22 15 Total yards 432 377 Rushing yards 192 110 Passing yards 240 267 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 36:11 23:49 Team Category Player StatisticsUtah Passing Jack Bentley 20/32, 240 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ty Jordan 17 rushes, 147 yards, 2 TD Receiving Britain Covey 9 receptions, 76 yards, TDColorado Passing Sam Noyer 16/34, 258 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jarek Broussard 14 rushes, 80 yards Receiving Brenden Rice 1 reception, 61 yards, TD
Washington State
Statistics WSUUTAH First downs 17 23 Total yards 396 528 Rushing yards 115 223 Passing yards 281 305 Turnovers 4 3 Time of possession 29:00 31:00 Team Category Player StatisticsWashington State Passing Jayden de Laura 17/28, 204 yards, TD, INT Rushing Max Borghi 10 rushes, 95 yards, TD Receiving Jamire Calvin 7 receptions, 104 yards, TDUtah Passing Jack Bentley 7/14, 153 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ty Jordan 22 rushes, 154 yards, 3 TD Receiving Britain Covey 6 receptions, 134 yards, TD
References