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Postgame Notes: No. 14 Utah at No. 18 USC
10/21/2023 11:16 PM | Football
Postgame Notes
No. 14 Utah 34, (at) No. 18 USC 32
Los Angeles, Calif. (L.A. Coliseum)
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Kick: 5:05 p.m. PT | End: 8:27 p.m.
Attendance: 61,551
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General
Offense
Defense
Special Teams
No. 14 Utah 34, (at) No. 18 USC 32
Los Angeles, Calif. (L.A. Coliseum)
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Kick: 5:05 p.m. PT | End: 8:27 p.m.
Attendance: 61,551
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General
- All-time, Utah has a 10-13 record against USC and has won four straight games over the Trojans for the first time in program history.
- Head coach Kyle Whittingham, the winningest head coach in program history, is 160-75 in his 19 seasons at the helm. Including his time as an assistant coach (1994-2004), he has coached in 361 games and contributed to 245 wins—both the most of any coach in program history.
- Since the 2021 season, Utah is 18-4 in Pac-12 Conference games.
- Kicker Cole Becker's 38-yard field goal as time expired gave Utah it's 26th final minute, game-winning score dating back to 1966 and second this season (the other at Baylor). Six of the 26 games have been on field goals as time expired; the last came when Louie Sakoda hit a 37-yard field goal to beat Oregon State on Oct. 2, 2008.
- Utah won the time of possession battle, 34:42 to 25:18. It is the second straight game and fifth time this season the Utes have been on top in TOP.
- The Utes are 6-1 for the first time since the 2019 season.
- USC won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Utah defended the West goal to begin the game.
Offense
- Utah's 482 total yards of offense were a season-high and the most since the 2022 Pac-12 Championship vs. USC (533). The Utes have eclipsed 400 total yards three times this season and 32 times since offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig returned to the U in 2019.
- Quarterback Bryson Barnes made his fourth start of the season and is 5-0 all-time as the starter at Utah. His 235 passing yards and three passing touchdowns were career-highs, while Barnes set season-bests with 57 rushing yards and a long rush of 26 yards.
- Safety Sione Vaki, lining up at running back and out of the wildcat, combined for 216 yards of offense (68 rushing, 149 receiving) and two receiving touchdowns (53 yards and 15 yards). His touchdown receptions were the first of his career.
- Vaki's five receptions, 149 receiving yards and two scores were all career-bests.
- Vaki's 53-yard touchdown reception was the longest by a Utah defensive player in recorded history, as noted by Greg Mroz of the Pac-12 Research Department.
- Running back Ja'Quinden Jackson had 26 carries for 117 yards. It pushed Jackson over the 1,000-yard mark for his career on the heels of his fourth career 100-yard game (last at Baylor on Sept. 9).
- Barnes rushed for a 10-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. It was Barnes' third career rushing score (all this season) and second straight game with a rushing touchdown.
- Tight end Landen King had six-yard touchdown during the third quarter. It was King's second touchdown reception as a Ute (the other came vs. UCLA) and the third of his collegiate career (one with Auburn during 2021).
- King's touchdown reception was his third total reception as a Ute (two have been touchdowns).
- Entering this weekend, Vaki's five receptions are the most by an FBS defensive player this season.
- Utah had a 100-yard receiver (Vaki 149) and 100-yard rusher (Jackson 117) for the first time since the Colorado game on Nov. 26, 2022.
Defense
- Safety Nate Ritchie made his first start of the season and sixth of his career (Ritchie started all five games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season).
- Defensive end Jonah Elliss has at least 1.0 sacks in four straight games and now has 10.0 on the season. His 10.0 sacks on the season place him into the top-10 in program history.
- Defensive end Connor O'Toole set a season-high with five tackles (1.0 sack). O'Toole has at least an assisted sack in both of his games played since returning from injury.
- After allowing 100 rushing yards to USC during the first quarter, the Trojans had just 45 yards the rest of the game. It includes -3 yards on the ground during the second quarter. USC also averaged 10.5 yards per play in the first quarter and just four yards in the second quarter.
- Cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn tied his career-high with five tackles and set a season-best with 1.0 TFL.
- Defensive end Van Fillinger has a sack for the second straight game.
- After being unavailable for the first half, safety Cole Bishop recovered a fumble during the third quarter after Fillinger knocked the ball loose; it is Bishop's fourth career recovery and second straight week with one. The force was Fillinger's second as a Ute and first since the Washington State game on Oct. 27, 2022.
- Defensive tackle Tevita Fotu recorded his first career pass breakup during the third quarter. Fellow defensive tackle Junior Tafuna also had a breakup in the third quarter, it was his first of the season with his last coming at Oregon on Nov. 19, 2022.
- Linebacker Lander Barton reset his career-high with nine tackles on the night.
- USC's touchdown on its opening drive of the game marked just the second time this season that a Utah opponent scored on its game-opening drive (Oregon State was the other).
Special Teams
- Mikey Matthews had a career-high with 117 all-purpose yards (8 receiving, 103 kick return, 6 punt return).
- Placekicker Cole Becker was 2-for-2 on field goals (33, 38) and 4-of-4 on PAT attempts.
Players Mentioned
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CB
/ FootballCrimson Corner with Bill Riley - Keith Kelley, voice of the Wyoming Cowboys
Tuesday, September 09
Ute greats Ron McBride and Roy Jefferson Ring of Honor Induction
Monday, September 08
Utah: 63, Cal Poly: 9 | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Saturday, September 06
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Ron McBride
Wednesday, September 03