PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — C.J. Stroud capped his record-setting offensive day by leading a 56-yard drive ending in Noah Ruggles’ 19-yard field goal with nine seconds to play, and No. 7 Ohio State beat No.
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Utah made sure its first trip to the Rose Bowl was memorable. Unfortunately for the Utes, they ran out of time to rally.
The 10th-ranked Utes led most of the way Saturday, but an injury to quarterback Cam Rising during the fourth quarter and an undermanned secondary proved too much to overcome as No.
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba put on a passing performance that obliterated a multitude of records during one of the biggest offensive days in Ohio State's storied history.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Michigan defensive back Dax Hill started against No. 3 Georgia in the Orange Bowl.
Hill’s status was uncertain after he did not join the second-ranked Wolverines in South Florida until Thursday.
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — The New Year's Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl college football game between Ohio State and Utah remained on track Friday despite surging cases of COVID-19, which forced the cancellation of the 2021 parade.
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Utah’s first Rose Bowl appearance is a landmark achievement. For the 10th-ranked Utes and their fans, it feels like the culmination of this program’s steady 20-year transformation from a mid-major overachiever to a perennial championship contender in the Pac-12 and beyond.
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — At some point while the sun sets near the start of the fourth quarter of the 108th Rose Bowl on Saturday, the football fans in Arroyo Seco will rise together in memory of Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — During Ohio State’s visit to Disneyland celebrating its appearance in the Rose Bowl, quarterback C.J. Stroud was looking forward to visiting Tomorrowland.
“I rode Space Mountain in eighth grade and I want to get back on there,” he said.
With everything Utah endured — and accomplished — this season, it's no surprise coach Kyle Whittingham was named The Associated Press Pac-12 Coach of the Year for 2021.
Utah is going to the Rose Bowl for the first time after defeating Oregon in the Pac-12 championship, a game the Utes reached after righting themselves following a rocky start on the field.
Michigan pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan and Baylor linebacker Terrel Bernard were among nine college football players selected as semifinalists for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year award.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Utah's football program has come a long way since the last time it faced Ohio State.
In 1986, the Utes were a struggling program in the Western Athletic Conference when they went to Columbus and were drilled 64-6 by the Buckeyes.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — As the Utah players celebrated the Pac-12 championship surrounded by roses and confetti, the memories of two teammates who couldn't share in the moment was paramount.
The past year marked by tragedy following the deaths of Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe will end with the long-coveted Rose Bowl bid.
Just 13 days after Utah knocked Oregon out of contention for a College Football Playoff berth, the two teams meet again to decide the Pac-12 champion.
The winner of Friday night's game in Las Vegas will be going to the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
No. 10 Oregon (10-2, 7-2 Pac-12, No. 10 CFP) vs. No. 14 Utah (9-3, 8-1, No. 17), Friday at 8 p.m. EST (ABC) in Las Vegas.
Line: Utah by 2½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Those conference championship upsets with the potential to create College Football Playoff chaos scenarios never actually happen.
As AP Top 25 college football poll voter Brett McMurphy of Action Network pointed out, only six teams that went into championship weekend holding a top-four spot in the selection committee's rankings did not end up making the field.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown Jr. got one chance to face rival Oregon State in his career with the Ducks, and he made it count.
Brown threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns while running for another score, and No.
While wounded, No. 11 Oregon can still play for another Pac-12 championship and a Rose Bowl berth.
But the Ducks (9-2, 6-2 Pac-12) have to get through Oregon State first.
Oregon is coming off a 38-7 loss last Saturday at Utah, which dropped the Ducks from No.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Losing a couple of early season games was far from the most difficult thing Utah had to overcome to get back to the Pac-12 title game.
“We’ve taken probably the hardest thing that can happen and we’ve turned it into something beautiful,” receiver Britain Covey said after Senior Day victory against Colorado on Friday.
Oregon State (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12) at No. 11 Oregon (9-2, 6-2), Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST (ESPN).
Line: Oregon by 7, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Colorado (4-7, 3-5 Pac-12) at No. 16 Utah (8-3, 7-1, No. 19 CFP), Friday at 4 p.m. EST (FOX).
Line: Utah by 23 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A potent offense has given Utah another chance to play for a Pac-12 Conference championship.
The No. 16 Utes (8-3, 7-1 Pac-12, No. 19 CFP) clinched their third Pac-12 South title in four seasons by dismantling Oregon 38-7.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jaxson Dart was there when BYU upset Southern California in 2019, a recruit watching from the stands as the Cougars flustered the Trojans’ Air Raid offense by dropping eight defenders into coverage.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah ended Oregon’s College Football Playoff hopes in dominant fashion. The Ducks’ 38-7 loss Saturday night also ended any chance the Pac-12 champion will claim one of the bids in the four-team playoff.
STARS
—C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, threw for 432 yards and six TDs as No. 5 Ohio State blew out No. 7 Michigan State 56-7
—Bryce Young, Alabama, passed for a school-record 559 yards and five TDs, and the No.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Britain Covey returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half, giving Utah 14 points in 27 seconds and a 28-0 lead, and the No. 24 Utes ended No. 4 Oregon’s College Football Playoff hopes with a 38-7 victory Saturday night.
No. 4 Oregon (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12, No. 3 CFP) at No. 24 Utah (7-3, 6-1, No. 23 CFP), Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EST (ABC).
Line: Utah by 3½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
(AP) — Now that Oregon State is bowl eligible, coach Jonathan Smith anticipates the Beavers may play with more abandon.
“Whether it’s the relief of getting to six or whatnot, I know we’re there now, and I’m hoping these guys will let it rip on Saturday,” he said.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham played it cool. He mentioned how this was just another game and how the Utes were treating it exactly as such.
That's a hard sell.
In reality, there’s a heap riding on Saturday night's clash between No.
Things to watch in Week 11 of the Pac-12 Conference:
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 4 Oregon (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12) at No. 24 Utah, Saturday. A potential preview of the Pac-12 Championship game could also have a huge impact on the College Football Playoff.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Cameron Rising’s long hair was still dripping wet at the postgame press conference, 30 minutes after the final whistle, giving an indication of a bruising, physical afternoon in the desert.
After two lopsided wins, the Utah Utes are on the verge of winning the Pac-12 South.
Coach Kyle Whittingham knows it. His players know it.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — It is not hyperbole to suggest UCLA's game against Colorado on Saturday begins a three-week must-win stretch for the Bruins.
While the Bruins need only one more win to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2017, Chip Kelly's tenure in Westwood is at a crossroads.
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Utah got off to fast start and didn't let up.
Tavion Thomas ran for four TDs in the first half, TJ Pledger scored on a school-record 96-yard run and Utah ran past Stanford 52-7 on Friday night.
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — After seizing control of the race for the Pac-12 South title a week ago, Utah knows one small let up could open the competition back up again.
The Utes can take a big step toward locking up a spot in the Pac-12 title game next month in Las Vegas with a victory on Friday night at Stanford.
Here are some things to watch this week in the Pac-12 Conference:
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 7 Oregon at Washington. There's another layer of importance for the Ducks (7-1, 4-1), who earned the No.
The calendar has flipped to November, signifying the final stretch of college football's regular season.
The Pac-12 has started to sort itself out, with several teams in contention in each division and others already out of the mix.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — A barefoot Jake Plummer took off from the group photo and did a partial lap around his former teammates, laughing the entire way.
Plummer and crew were back in Tempe on Saturday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Arizona State's last Rose Bowl appearance.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Tavion Thomas rushed for a career-high 160 yards and a school record-tying four touchdowns to power Utah to a 44-24 win Saturday night as the school retired the number 22 in honor of the untimely deaths of Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Stopping the run has become a huge problem for Utah.
The Utes led the Pac-12 in rushing defense for three consecutive seasons heading into this year. Now Utah is the one getting bullied along the line of scrimmage.
Here are some things to watch this week in the Pac-12 Conference:
GAME OF THE WEEK: Oregon State at California. Bowl-bound Beavers? Could be. A win would make Oregon State (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) bowl-eligible for the first time since 2013.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah will retire jersey No. 22 during its game against UCLA on Saturday to honor Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe, friends and teammates who died nine months apart.
The No. 22 will be the first jersey retired in program history, the school announced Monday.
Paced by Pac-12 rushing leader B.J. Baylor, Oregon State's improved ground game is one of the key reasons the Beavers are just a win away from bowl eligibility for the first time since 2013.
Baylor is one of several notable Pac-12 running backs who have hit their stride this season.
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Oregon State took a pretty good shot from Utah in the first eight minutes but the Beavers never wavered and responded with an all-around performance that put them a win away from a bowl berth.