Upcoming Event: Track & Field versus NCAA First Round on May 28, 2026
Track & Field
vs NCAA First Round
The University of Utah Athletics
In-Game Notes vs. Ohio State
General • Rose Bowl
General • Game
Offense
Defense
Special Teams
- Prior to Utah's Britain Covey, the last player to return a kickoff for a touchdown in the Rose Bowl Game was Wisconsin's Aron Cruickshank (95 yards in the 2020 game--following the 2019 season) (via Greg Mroz/Pac-12 Research).
- Senior safety Brandon McKinney became the third player since 1996 to appear in the Rose Bowl Game for two different teams. McKinney started the 2018 game while a member of the Washington program, and follows Isaiah Pryor (Ohio State 2018, Notre Dame 2020) and Juwan Johnson (Penn State 2016, Oregon 2019) to appear in the contest for two teams. (via Greg Mroz/Pac-12 Research and STATS Perform).
- The combined 56 points scored in the first half (Utah 35, Ohio State 21) ties a Rose Bowl Game record for points in either half.
- Utah's Moment of Loudness, held each game this season in tribute to the late Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan, took place during the first break of the fourth quarter.
- Tournament of Roses President Bob Miller was on-field for the pregame coin toss, as was Grand Marshal LeVar Burton.
General • Game
- Junior wide receiver and return man Britain Covey entered the Rose Bowl Game with 3,989 career all-purpose yards, needing 86 to pass Eddie Johnson (4,074 from 1984-88) for third-most in Utah history.
- At the half, Covey had amassed 191 all-purpose yards for the game (4,180 for his career) and moving past Johnson for sole possession of third.
- On both of Ohio State's first-half three-and-outs, Utah answered with touchdowns on each of its ensuing possessions.
- Most points scored by Utah - Bowl games only:
- 1. 45 (vs. Colorado State, 2014 Las Vegas Bowl)
- T-2. 38 (vs. Georgia Tech, 2005 Emerald Bowl / vs. Ohio State, 2022 Rose Bowl)
- Utah won the coin toss and elected to receive. Ohio State defended the North goal to begin the game.
Offense
- The 35 points scored by Utah in the first half tie the most for the Utes in a first half of a bowl game (2015 Las Vegas Bowl - W, 35-28 vs. BYU).
- 38 points scored by Utah is the second-most given up by Ohio State this season, short only of Michigan (42 on Nov. 27, 2021).
- Junior wide receiver Britain Covey caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Cameron Rising during the first quarter. In bowl games, is the first career touchdown reception for Covey as well as first career touchdown pass for Rising.
- Sophomore Micah Bernard added a 12-yard catch for a score later in the first quarter.
- Rising's 62-yard rushing touchdown was Rising's longest collegiate run, and the longest by a Pac-12 quarterback this season.
- It was the first 60-plus-yard TD run by a Utah quarterback since Corbin Louks (69) in a win over Colorado State on Oct. 18, 2008 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
- With those TD passes to Covey and Bernard, Rising has now thrown eight touchdown passes this season when playing in his home state of California (3 at San Diego State, 3 at USC).
- Freshman quarterback Bryson Barnes entered in relief of Rising during the fourth quarter due to injury.
Defense
- Sophomore Micah Bernard, who has primarily lined up at running back for the Utes, played his first collegiate defensive snaps, starting at cornerback during the Rose Bowl Game. Bernard recorded his first tackle of the game during the first quarter.
- Bernard is the first Ute since Cory Butler-Byrd to record both a receiving touchdown and a true defensive tackle (not special teams) in the same game. In a win over Cal on Oct. 10, 2015, Butler-Byrd's lone reception was a 54-yard touchdown, and he actually had TWO stops on defense.
- Though it was not Bernard's first career tackle (he entered the game with two on kickoff coverage and one on an interception return), it was his first true stop as a Ute on the defensive side of the ball.
- Freshman Clark Phillips III recorded his second career forced fumble (both in 2021). After Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud fired a 50-yard pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Phillips III punched the ball out at the Utah six-yard line before freshman safety Cole Bishop came up with the recovery in the end zone for a touchback. It was Phillips' second force of the season and Bishop's first career recovery.
- Phillips III recorded Utah's 10th interception of the 2021 season and Phillips' second pick of the year. It extended a streak for Utah to seven straight bowl games with an interception (since the 2014 Las Vegas Bowl vs. Colorado State).
- Playing in his third career bowl game, senior safety Vonte Davis had his first multi-tackle game on such a stage.
- For the eighth time this season and third time in the last four games, Utah forced a three-and-out on its opponent's game-opening drive.
Special Teams
- During the second quarter, Covey returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown--a career-long kickoff return for Covey and his first such touchdown. It is the first time that a Utah player has returned either a kick or punt for a touchdown when playing in a bowl game.
- In any game, Butler-Byrd was the last Utah player to return a kickoff for a touchdown (99 yards on the opening kickoff), coincidentally also inside the Rose Bowl in a win against UCLA on Oct. 22, 2016.
- Covey additionally has four career punt return touchdowns which is tied for a school record with Steve Odom (1971-73) and Steve Smith (1999-2000).
- With a 24-yard field goal in the third quarter, sophomore kicker Jadon Redding is 2-of-2 for his career on field goals in bowl games, having made a 32-yarder in the 2019 Alamo Bowl vs. Texas.