Utes up 35 – 21 at halftime in the Rose Bowl against Ohio State

University of Utah fans out in force and showing their colors with a red wave at the 2022 Rose Bowl. Photo: Jared Barney

PASADENA, Calif.  — Head coach of the Utah Utes, Kyle Wittingham, proves why he’s the AP Pac 12 Coach of the Year as he leads his University of Utah Utes to a 35 – 21 lead at halftime in their first appearance in the Rose Bowl tournament. Not completely satisfied, or not letting it show if he was, Wittingham told ESPN’s Holley Rowe in a halftime interview on the field before heading into the locker room, “We’ve got to figure some things out.” 

With three of the second quarter’s six touchdowns happening within a rapid-fire 50-second time-frame, the Utes are up at the half. One of those TDs was a 97-yard punt return by Utes Senior and season standout, #18, Britain Covey. 

That was soon followed by a 62-yard run by quarterback for the Utes, #7 Cam Rising which didn’t result in a touchdown but continued the team’s dominance down the field. He simply kept his feet moving through a grouping of athletes that became confused as to the actual ending of the play. Rising grew up in the Los Angeles area, however, never went to a Rose Bowl game until today.

Still in the second quarter, Utah’s #6 Bishoprecovered the football in the Buckeye endzone after an Ohio fumble yards up the field.

Ohio State player, sophomore Jackson Smith-NJigba was, not-unexpectedly, outperforming most of his teammates.

The Utes are remembering the tragic deaths of two playersthroughout the year who both wore #22.