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. Northwestern
Pregame
General
Offense
Defense
Special Teams
- Today's game marks Utah's 26th appearance in a bowl game. The Utes are 17-8 in their previous 25 bowls and look to snap out of a four-game losing streak in bowl games (last win: 2017 Heart of Dallas Bowl vs. West Virginia).
- Head coach Kyle Whittingham is 11-5 in bowl games, with his 11 wins tying for third-most among active FBS head coaches and in the top-10 all-time.
- This is Utah's sixth appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl (1999, 2001, ’10, ’14, ’15, ’23). It ties BYU for the most by a single program.
- Utah enters this year's Las Vegas Bowl with a 4-1 record in the game, with its four wins tying Boise State for the most in the history of the bowl.
- Northwestern (2018, '23) becomes the fourth opponent that Utah has faced twice in a bowl game. The others are Georgia Tech (2005, '11), USC (1993, 2001) and West Virginia (1964, 2017).
- Utah has now played in Allegiant Stadium in three straight seasons, including the Pac-12 Championship games in 2021 and '22.
General
- Utah won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The Utes defended the South goal to begin the game.
- In collaboration with the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, Utah held its Moment of Loudness at the end of the third quarter.
- Attendance: 20,897
Offense
- Offensive lineman Spencer Fano made the 12th start of his true freshman season, moving to right tackle for the first time. Fano's previous 11 starts had come at left tackle.
- Returning to game action, running back Micah Bernard made his first start of the season.
- Fellow running back Ja'Quinden Jackson had a 25-yard rush for a first down, late in the first quarter. It was Jackson's longest since a 54-yard scamper on Nov. 4 vs. Arizona State.
- Utah was held scoreless through the first three quarters; it was the first such occurrence for the Utes since Oct. 22, 2011 vs. Cal.
- Tight end Dallen Bentley reeled in his first catch as a Ute late in the third quarter. With that reception, a Utah tight end has caught a pass in 84 of the team's last 85 games.
- Quarterback Luke Bottari entered the game late in the third quarter when Bryson Barnes' helmet came off; by rule Barnes was required to exit the game for at least one play.
- Bernard rushed for a six-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter; it was Bernard's first score of the season and seventh of his career (his last also came in Allegiant Stadium during the 2022 Pac-12 Championship).
Defense
- Utah forced a three-and-out on Northwestern's game-opening drive. It was the eighth time this season (and third straight bowl game) that a Utah opponent did not record a first down on its game-opening drive.
- Safety Johnathan Hall made his first start as a Ute, and recorded his first career sack as a third-down stop on Northwestern's opening drive.
- Linebacker Hayden Furey made his first start of the season and fifth of his career.
- Linebacker Levani Damuni reached double-digit tackles for the fifth time this season; all have come in the last six games (since Oregon on Oct. 28).
- Damuni tied his single-game career-high tackles (12) during the third quarter.
- After Northwestern's touchdown with 1:20 left on the second quarter clock, the Utah defense forced the following on NU's next five drives: missed field goal, three-and-out, three-and-out, three-and-out, turnover on downs.
Special Teams
- Punter Jack Bouwmeester had two punts for 50-plus yards during the first half, with a long of 55 yards. Bouwmeester now has 19 punts this season for 50-plus yards, the most by a Ute since Mitch Wishnowsky in the 2018 season (20).