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. SUU
General
Offense
Defense
Special Teams
- Utah won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The Utes defended the North goal to begin the game.
- Attendance: 52,210
Offense
- Quarterback Cameron Rising found running back Dijon Stanley for a 64-yard touchdown pass on the Utes' opening drive of the game. It was...
- The first Utah touchdown of the Big 12 Conference era
- Stanley's first career receiving touchdown and a career-long reception
- Rising's first touchdown pass since Jan. 2, 2023
- Stanley's touchdown reception marked the third straight season that the Utes began a season with a touchdown pass on their opening drive.
- Prior to Stanley's 64-yard reception, he entered the game with 21 total receiving yards in his career.
- Early in the second quarter, Rising launched a 29-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brant Kuithe. It was Kuithe's first touchdown reception since Sept. 17, 2022.
- Kuithe caught another touchdown pass later in the second quarter; it marked his first multi-receiving touchdown game since Oct. 16, 2021 vs. Arizona State.
- Rising's fourth touchdown pass of the game was a 79-yarder to Stanley; giving Rising his 50th career touchdown pass. It tied a single-game career-high for Rising (vs. San Diego State in 2022) and his 50 career TD passes ranks fourth all-time in Utah history.
- Rising's fourth passing touchdown brought him to 62 carer total touchdowns (pass + rush), tying Rising with Alex Smith for fifth in program history.
- Rising added his fifth touchdown pass (to Kuithe), making him the first Utah quarterback to throw five touchdown passes in a game since Travis Wilson vs. Fresno State in 2014. The last Utah quarterback to throw five TD in a half was Brian Johnson vs. San Diego State in 2008.
- Rising exited the game just before halftime with a 10-of-15 passing line with 254 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions nor sacks. It was his 15th career 200-yard game which ranks ninth in recorded program history.
- Freshman quarterback Isaac Wilson entered the game late in the second quarter to make his collegiate debut. He recorded his first career completion during the third quarter.
- Utah's offense notched touchdowns on its first five drives, the first time they've accomplished that feat since they scored TDs on their first six possessions on Sept. 20, 1997 against UTEP.
- Kuithe is the first tight end in recorded Big 12 history to have three touchdown receptions in a half. (it has happened many times by Big 12 wide receivers)
- Stanley became the first Utah running back to have a 100-yard receiving game since Devontae Booker (110) vs. Oregon in 2014.
- Wilson tossed his first collegiate touchdown to tight end Caleb Lohner--also Lohner's first reception as a Ute. Lohner became the first Ute to have his first reception be a touchdown since Money Parks had the feat at USC in 2021.
Defense
- The Utah defense forced an SUU punt on the Thunderbirds' game-opening drive. It marked the seventh straight season opener that Utah has held an opponent scoreless on their opening drive (last: North Dakota in 2017)Â
- Elijah Davis snagged his first career interception in the third quarter.
- The Utes pitched a first-half in their season opener for the first time since 2016, when they began the year with a 24-0 defeat of Southern Utah.
- Defensive end Van Fillinger recorded his second sack during the third quarter; it's his most since recording a career-best 3.0 sacks in the Washington State game in 2021.
Special Teams
- Punter Jack Bouwmeester made his season debut with a 45-yard punt in the third quarter.