The Utah Utes have suffered another difficult loss after being upset by the Arizona State Sun Devils for the second loss in a row.
Utah dropped to 4-2 and now the Utes hold a conference record of 1-2 in their first season in the new look Big 12 Conference. The Utes entered the season with plenty of confidence, but between injuries to starting quarterback Cam Rising and sloppy play, Utah now will have to battle to move in the conference.
Rising missed time with a hand injury which prompted backup Isaac Wilson, the brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson, to start. Wilson struggled against Arizona and was largely responsible for the bad play the offense against the Wildcats. Rising returned against Arizona State last night, however, it is clear the quarterback is still injured with the inaccuracy he suffered.
Rising threw three interceptions against a defense that has not been known to turn the ball over, with just five turnovers generated before the game. The Sun Devils generated just three interceptions, but doubled their total against the usually accurate quarterback Rising.
As bad of a game as both the offense and Rising may have had, the worst of it all came after the game from Utes fans. Utah entered the year with college football playoff expectations and now will have to battle just to reach a Big 12 Conference title shot.
.@Utah_Football might as well just let Issac Wilson play the season out with 2 conference losses. No point in letting Rising play
— Bozzles (@Bozzles28) October 12, 2024
Whitt deserves a statue, but his time has come. Gotta go.
Cam is a waste of a roster spot at this point, move on and develop the younger guy.
— Steve Carroll (@theOGcarroll) October 12, 2024
Selling the remainder of my home game tickets. North end zone Sec 26, 2 seats.
— Kurt Beckstrom (@kurtduane) October 12, 2024
Kyle Whittingham mailed it in by keeping Cam Rising in the game pic.twitter.com/ZYcWb5ZDqV
— Austin 🦆 (@deviousduck_) October 12, 2024
Some other Utah Utes fans were much more blunt with their assessment of the loss and how the team has recently performed over the past two games.
Keys to tonights loss
ASU scored more points then Utah.
Thank you for listening to my analysis.
— Ivan (@UteFanIvan) October 12, 2024
I thought the AZ loss at home was bad, but this was next level bad.
— WrigleyvilleUte (@jhallito) October 12, 2024
Where do the Utah Utes Go Following Crucial Loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils?
After a second straight loss within the Big 12 Conference, the Utah Utes football staff will have to consider making some changes.
As much as fans would like to see Wilson start the remainder of the games this season, Rising is still the superior quarterback. Rising was injury previously and rumors circulated suggesting the talented quarterback would miss the entire season. While the rumors were proven to be false, his play on the field however suggest he may still be recovering.
With two losses the Utah Utes cannot afford to lose another conference game if they hope to either contend for a title or reach the college football playoff. It it certainly a daunting task, but one that is not completely out of the question for the Utes. Continuing to give Rising the football and attempt to win football games should continue to be the goal this season, rather than opting to develop youth.
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