Upcoming Event: Track & Field versus NCAA First Round on May 28, 2026
Track & Field
vs NCAA First Round
The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Football: In-Game Notes vs. Arizona State
General
Offense
Defense
Special Teams
- ASU won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The Utes defended the South goal to begin the game.
- Today's official attendance of 52,104 marks the 82nd consecutive sellout inside Rice-Eccles Stadium, dating back to the 2010 season opener vs. Pitt. It's the seventh-highest attendance in RES history.
Offense
- Quarterback Bryson Barnes was a perfect 5-of-5 passing on Utah's opening drive, capped with a 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Devaughn Vele. It was Vele's first touchdown reception of the season and first since the Stanford game on Nov. 12, 2022.
- The touchdown pass to Vele marked Utah's fourth opening-drive touchdown of the season and first since the USC game on Oct. 21.
- Later in the first quarter, freshman Dijon Stanley logged his first career offensive yardage with a 14-yard reception that brought Utah into the red zone.
- Three plays later, Barnes found Vele again for a three-yard score. Vele's second touchdown catch tied a career-high, which he first set during the San Diego State game in 2022.
- Vele's seven catches during the first half tied a career-high.
- With 54 seconds remaining before halftime, wide receiver Munir McClain reached up and through an ASU defender for a 20-yard touchdown reception. It was McClain's first career touchdown reception and also tied Barnes' career-high with his third touchdown pass of the game.
- On that scoring drive, Barnes was 5-of-7 passing for 46 yards.
- Running back Ja'Quinden Jackson eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the fifth time as a Ute and third this season (129 at Baylor, 117 at USC).
- Tight end Landen King made a season-long 20-yard reception during the fourth quarter. It was King's longest catch since a 24-yard grab during the 2022 season when King played at Auburn.
- Two plays later, King caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Barnes, the third such catch of the season for King.
- Barnes' fourth touchdown pass of the game (to King) is a career-high and ties him for 10th all-time for a single game at Utah. The last four-touchdown passing game by a Ute was from Cameron Rising vs. San Diego State in 2022. The last time a Ute accomplished the feat in a Pac-12 Conference game was Tyler Huntley against USC in 2018.
- Prior to today, Arizona State had held three straight opponents (Colorado, Washington and Washington State) each under 100 yards rushing.
- Quarterback Nate Johnson entered during the fourth quarter in relief of Barnes and hustled for a career-long 59-yard rushing touchdown. It was Johnson's fourth rushing touchdown and sixth of his career; his last came vs. Weber State on Sept. 16. It is the longest rushing touchdown by a Utah quarterback since the Rose Bowl vs. Ohio State on Jan. 2, 2022 (62 yards by Cameron Rising).
- Utah's 48 points are a season-high and the most since scoring 63 at Colorado on Nov. 26, 2022.
- Since offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig returned to Utah in 2019, the Utes have eclipsed 450-plus total yards of offense in 26 games and 30-plus points in 38 games.
Defense
- Defensive end Connor O'Toole made his first start of the season and first since last season's Rose Bowl vs. Penn State.
- The Utah defense held ASU without a first down on its game-opening drive; it was the sixth time this season Utah has accomplished the feat.
- ASU was held to just two first downs, one yard passing and 11 yards of total offense during the first quarter.
- Safety Cole Bishop made a six-yard TFL during the first quarter; it was his first solo TFL since the Weber State game on Sept. 16.
- O'Toole added a two-yard sack during the second quarter. It gives him three straight games with at least 1.0 TFL and a solo sack in two of the last three games.
- Safety Sione Vaki was credited a two-yard TFL during the second quarter, his first since the Oregon State game on Sept. 29.
- The Utah defense did not allow a third-down conversion (7 attempts) for Arizona State during the first half.
- Fellow defensive end Jonah Elliss has recorded multiple pass breakups for the first time as a Ute.
- Elliss' sack in the third quarter brought him to 11.0 on the season; it ties him for ninth all-time in Utah history (alongside Kevin Polston (1985) and the total is the most by a Ute since Bradlee Anae's 13 during 2019.
- Utah's fifth pass breakup of the game came during the third quarter and tied a season-high for the team.
- Cornerback Miles Battle had an interception and ensuing 24-yard return during the third quarter. It was Battle's first interception as a Ute and third of his career; his last came vs. Troy in the 2022 season opener when Battle played at Ole Miss.
Special Teams
- Kicker Cole Becker returned to kickoff duty after handling PATs and field goals since the Cal game. Becker had handled kickoffs, PATs and field goals during the first two games of the season before returning from injury vs. Cal.
- Becker connected on a 30-yard field goal late in the second quarter. He has made at least one field goal in all six games Becker has played in as a Ute.
- Playing both on the kickoff team and on defense, Smith Snowden made his first collegiate tackles.
- Becker added a 43-yard field goal with 3:47 to go in the third quarter. It marks his fifth straight game played making multiple field goals.