2020 Utah Utes football team

2020 Utah Utes football
Conference	Pac-12 Conference
Division	South Division
Record	3–2 (3–2 Pac-12)
Head coach	Kyle Whittingham (16th season)
Offensive coordinator	Andy Ludwig (6th season)
Defensive coordinator	Morgan Scalley (5th season)
Captain	Jake Bentley, Devin Lloyd, Mika Tafua, Orlando Umana
Home stadium	Rice–Eccles Stadium

2020 Pac-12 Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
North Division
Washington x		3	–	1					3	–	1
Oregon y$		4	–	2					4	–	3
Stanford		4	–	2					4	–	2
California		1	–	3					1	–	3
Washington State		1	–	3					1	–	3
Oregon State		2	–	5					2	–	5
South Division
No. 21 USC xy		5	–	0					5	–	1
Colorado		3	–	1					4	–	2
Utah		3	–	2					3	–	2
Arizona State		2	–	2					2	–	2
UCLA		3	–	4					3	–	4
Arizona		0	–	5					0	–	5
Championship: Oregon 31, USC 24
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Note: Due to COVID-19, the Pac-12 suspended the season on August 11, but later decided to begin play on November 6. In addition to the title game on December 18, the conference seeded all remaining teams for a game during that weekend. Rankings from AP Poll.

The 2020 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Utes were led by 16th-year head coach Kyle Whittingham and played their home games at Rice–Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, as members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference.

On August 11, 2020, the Pac-12 suspended all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 24, the Pac-12 announced that football teams would return to play a seven-game conference-only season beginning on November 6, with the conference championship game scheduled for December 18.

On December 18, with a 2–2 record and one game left to play, the Utes announced that they would not pursue a bid to a bowl game. The Utes won their final game, finishing their season with a 3–2 record. Running back Ty Jordan was voted the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.

Schedule

Utah had games scheduled against BYU, Montana State, and Wyoming, but canceled these games on July 10 due to the Pac-12 Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On November 24, Utah's scheduled game at Arizona State for November 29 was canceled after a COVID-19 outbreak within the Arizona State program. The Pac-12 then announced that Utah would instead play at Washington on November 28; the Huskies' scheduled game at Washington State had also been canceled after Washington State had a COVID-19 outbreak.

Original 2020 Utah Utes schedule
Date	Opponent	Site
September 3	BYU*	Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT (Holy War)
September 12	Montana State*	Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
September 19	at Wyoming*	War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WY
September 26	at California	California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA
October 2	USC	Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
October 10	at Washington State	Martin Stadium • Pullman, WA
October 17	Washington	Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
October 29	at UCLA	Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA
November 7	Arizona	Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
November 14	Oregon State	Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
November 21	at Arizona State	Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ
November 28	at Colorado	Folsom Field • Boulder, CO (Rumble in the Rockies)

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
November 7	1:30 p.m.	Arizona		Rice–Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT	ESPN2	No Contest
November 14	8:30 p.m.	at UCLA		Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA	FOX	No Contest
November 21	8:30 p.m.	No. 20 USC		Rice–Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT	ESPN	L 17–33	0
November 28	5:30 p.m.	at Washington		Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	ABC	L 21–24	259
December 5	8:30 p.m.	Oregon State		Rice–Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT	ESPN	W 30–24	0
December 12	10:00 a.m.	at No. 21 Colorado		Folsom Field Boulder, CO (Rumble in the Rockies)	FOX	W 38–21	0
December 19	11:30 a.m.	Washington State		Rice–Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT	FS1	W 45–28	0
Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to game All times are in Mountain time

Rankings

Further information: 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Final
AP	22	22*	—	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	20	20*	—	—	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	—	—	—	RV	RV	RV
CFP	Not released												—	—	—	—	—	Not released

Personnel

2020 Utah Utes football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 1 Bryan Thompson Jr RB 3 Micah Bernard  Fr WR 3 Tyrone Young-Smith Sr RB 5 Jordan Wilmore So RB 6 Devin Brumfield Jr QB 7 Cameron Rising So QB 8 Jake Bentley Sr QB 9 Cooper Justice Fr WR 10 Money Parks Fr QB 12 Drew Lisk Sr QB 14 Carter Robinson  Fr QB 15 Nick Billoups Fr WR 17 Devaughn Vele  Fr WR 18 Britain Covey Jr WR 21 Solomon Enis Jr RB 22 Ty Jordan Fr RB 24 Elvis Vakapuna Fr WR 25 Kyrese Rowan  Fr WR 26 Maxwell Cotton  Fr WR 27 Pierre Moudourou Jr WR 28 Robbie Colenzo  Fr WR 29 Sebastian Macaluso  Fr RB 31 Aaron Tapusoa Sr QB 34 Bryson Barnes Fr RB 34 Braedon Wissler Fr RB 35 Charlie Vincent  Fr RB 37 Faysal Aden  Fr TE 39 Joe Ludwig Jr TE 40 Ali'i Niumatalolo Sr TE 43 Mufi Hill-Hunt Sr TE 45 Samson Nacua Sr OL 50 Orlando Umana Sr OL 51 Keaton Bills  Fr OL 53 Johnny Maea So OL 54 Paul Maile So OL 55 Nick Ford Jr OL 60 Shintaro Mann Fr OL 64 Marist Talavou  Fr OL 68 Jaren Kump Fr OL 69 Simi Moala So OL 70 Hunter Lotulelei Fr OL 71 Braeden Daniels So OL 72 Luke Felix-Fualalo  Fr OL 74 Jaxon Garcia Fr OL 76 London Bartholomew Sr OL 77 Bamidele Olaseni Sr OL 78 Sataoa Laumea  Fr OL 79 Alex Harrison Fr TE 80 Brant Kuithe Jr WR 81 Connor O'Toole Fr WR 82 Dylan Slavens Jr WR 83 Cameron Gardner So WR 84 Dominique Thompson So TE 85 Soa Rosales  Fr TE 86 Dalton Kincaid Jr TE 87 Thomas Yassmin So TE 88 Branden Anderson Fr TE 89 Cole Fotheringham Jr OL 94 Falcon Kaumatule  Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class LB 0 Devin Lloyd Jr CB 2 Aaron Lowe So CB 3 Drew Rawls  Fr CB 4 JaTravis Broughton So CB 5 Caine Savage Fr S 6 Nate Ritchie Fr DE 7 Van Fillinger Fr CB 8 Clark Phillips III Fr LB 9 Sione Fotu Fr LB 10 Ethan Calvert Fr S 10 R. J. Hubert Jr S 11 Dakota Hansen Jr DE 12 Tyler Wegis Fr S 13 Kamo'i Latu Fr S 14 Ben Renfro Fr CB 15 Malone Mataele So S 16 Zemaiah Vaughn Fr DB 18 Ousmane Doumbia Fr S 19 Vonte Davis Sr LB 20 Jeremy Mercier Jr CB 23 Faybian Marks Fr CB 25 Kenzel Lawler Fr S 28 Jake Biggs Fr LB 29 Nephi Sewell Jr LB 30 Chris Wilson Fr CB 31 LaCarea Pleasant-Johnson  Fr LB 32 Moroni Anae Jr S 38 Stone Azarcon Jr DT 41 Hauati Pututau Sr DE 42 Mika Tafua Jr DE 44 Xavier Carlton Fr DE 46 Miki Suguturaga  Fr LB 47 Rob Bonar Fr DT 49 Pita Tonga Sr DT 50 Fua Pututau So LB 51 Samuelu Elisaia Sr DE 52 Max Miner Fr LB 54 Hayden Furey So LB 55 Andrew Mata'afa So DE 56 Tyler Gonzalez So DT 57 Eli Morrow So DE 58 Junior Tafuna Fr LB 59 Sione Tuha Fr DE 65 Tyler Gleed Fr DE 66 Gavin Nawahine Fr LB 81 Taniela Pututau Fr DE 90 Devin Kaufusi Jr DE 91 Blake Kuithe So DE 92 Maxs Tupai Sr DL 93 Semisi Lauaki  Fr DT 95 Aliki Vimahi Fr DT 96 Tanoa Togiai Fr DT 98 Viane Moala Sr DL 99 Tennessee Pututau Fr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 22 Jordan Noyes Fr P 33 Ben Lennon So K 36 Skylar Southam Jr P 37 Jared March  Fr LS 48 Noah Rodriguez-Trammell Jr K/P 61 Tanner Cragun Fr LS 93 Keegan Markgraf Sr K 97 Jadon Redding So	Head coach Kyle Whittingham Coordinators/assistant coaches Morgan Scalley – Defensive coordinator/safeties Andy Ludwig – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Jim Harding – Assistant head coach/offensive line Sharrieff Shah – Special teams coordinator/cornerbacks Freddie Whittingham – Tight ends/recruiting coordinator Guy Holliday – Wide receivers Kiel McDonald – Running backs Sione Po'uha – Defensive tackles Lewis Powell – Defensive ends Colton Swan – Linebackers Ryan Blakney – Offensive Analyst Vince Conti – Offensive Analyst Ryan Lindley – Offensive Analyst Dom Conti – Special Teams Analyst J. J. Dielman – Offensive Graduate Assistant D. J. Gillins – Offensive Graduate Assistant Justin Mallgrav – Defensive Graduate Assistant Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: 4/27/23

Depth chart

†

Defense
CB ⋅ ⋅ ⋅								CB ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
Offense
LT LG C RG RT ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
		QB ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
		Special teams

Game summaries

USC

See also: 2020 USC Trojans football team

USC Trojans at Utah Utes

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 20 Trojans	3	21	6	3	33
Utes	3	14	0	0	17

at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah

• Date: November 21, 2020
• Game time: 7:30 p.m. PST
• Game weather: 34 °F (1 °C) Mostly Clear, Humidity at 58%
• Game attendance: 0
• TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Stormy Buonantony

Game information

1st Quarter Utah (9:07) – #97 Jadon Redding kicks a 36 yard field goal – Utah 3–0 USC (5:17) – #48 Parker Lewis kicks a 35 yard field goal – Tied 3–3 2nd Quarter USC (14:04) – #29 Vavae Malepeai runs for a 2 yard TD (#48 Parker Lewis kick) – USC 10–3 Utah (11:53) – #29 Nephi Sewell recovered a fumble for a 23 yard TD (#97 Jadon Redding kick) – Tied 10–10 USC (9:28) – #9 Kedon Slovis to #21 Isaiah Pola-Mao for a 8 yard pass TD (#48 Parker Lewis kick) – USC 17–10 USC (5:45) – #9 Kedon Slovis to #84 Erik Krommenhoek for a 10 yard pass TD (#48 Parker Lewis kick) – USC 24–10 Utah (0:49) – #8 Jake Bentley to #45 Samson Nacua for a 7 yard pass TD (#97 Jadon Redding kick) – USC 24–17 3rd Quarter USC (9:32) – #48 Parker Lewis kicks a 44 yard field goal – USC 27–17 USC (4:47) – #48 Parker Lewis kicks a 43 yard field goal – USC 30–17 4th Quarter USC (1:03) – #48 Parker Lewis kicks a 47 yard field goal – USC 33–17 Passing USC – #9 Kedon Slovis 17/28 217 yds 2 touchdowns 1 interception Utah – #7 Cameron Rising 3/6 45 yds, 0 touchdowns, 1 Interception #8 Jake Bentley 4/8 41 yds 1 touchdown 0 interception Rushing USC – #29 Vavae Malepeai 13 Att, 55 yds, 1 touchdown Utah – #8 Jake Bentley 2 Att, 33 yds, 0 touchdown Receiving USC – #21 Tyler Vaughns 4 Rec, 62 yds, 1 touchdown Utah – #21 Ty Jordan 1 Rec, 21 yds, 0 touchdown

At Washington

See also: 2020 Washington Huskies football team

Due to Arizona State not having the minimum number of scholarship players available due to positive COVID-19 tests Utah was rescheduled to play at Washington.

Utah at Washington – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Utes	7	14	0	0	21
Huskies	0	0	17	7	24

at Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA

• Date: November 28, 2020
• Game time: 4:30 p.m. PST
• Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C) • Mostly Cloudy• Wind @ 0 mph (0 km/h)
• Game attendance: 259
• Referee: Mark Duddy
• TV announcers (ABC): Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison, and Stormy Buonantony

Game information
Top passers Utah – QB Jake Bentley: 16/23, 144 yards, 1 TD, 2 int UW – QB Dylan Morris: 23/38, 272 yards, 2 TD, 3 int Top rushers Utah – RB Ty Jordan: 10 carries, 99 yards UW – RB Sean McGrew: 7 carries, 38 yards Top receiving Utah – WR Bryan Thompson: 3 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD UW – TE Cade Otton: 8 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD

Oregon State

See also: 2020 Oregon State Beavers football team

Oregon State Beavers vs. Utah Utes – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Beavers	0	10	0	14	24
Utes	6	10	7	7	30

at Rice-Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, Utah

• Date: December 5, 2020
• Game time: 8:30 p.m. MST
• Game weather: Clear, 30 °F (−1 °C)
• Game attendance: 0
• Referee: Mike McCabe
• TV: ESPN
• Reference

Game information

First quarter UTAH – Jadon Redding 33-yard field goal, 10:21. Utah 3–0. Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 4:39. UTAH – Jadon Redding 20-yard field goal, 6:50. Utah 6–0. Drive: 4 plays, 8 yards, 1:31. Second quarter UTAH – Jadon Redding 27-yard field goal, 12:27. Utah 9–0. Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 5:12. OSU – Everett Hayes 33-yard field goal, 9:16. Utah 9–3. Drive: 7 plays, 54 yards, 3:05. UTAH – Ty Jordan 1-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 3:10. Utah 16–3. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 6:06. OSU – Calvin Tyler Jr. 1-yard run (Everett Hayes kick), 0:50. Utah 16–10. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 2:20. Third quarter UTAH – Britain Covey 8-yard pass from Jake Bentley (Jadon Redding kick), 6:22. Utah 23–10. Drive: 14 plays, 89 yards, 7:45. Fourth quarter UTAH – Britain Covey 64-yard punt return (Jadon Redding kick), 14:37. Utah 30–10. OSU – Calvin Tyler Jr. 6-yard run (Everett Hayes kick), 11:50. Utah 30–17. Drive: 8 plays, 65 yards, 2:41. OSU – Kolby Taylor 21-yard pass from Chance Nolan (Everett Hayes kick), 5:07. Utah 30–24. Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 2:11. Top passers OSU – Chance Nolan – 20/38, 202 yards, TD, INT UTAH – Jake Bentley – 18/27, 174 yards, TD Top rushers OSU – Jack Colletto – 1 rush, 40 yards UTAH – Ty Jordan – 27 rushes, 167 yards, TD Top receivers OSU – Tyjon Lindsey – 3 receptions, 37 yards UTAH – Brant Kuithe – 8 receptions, 76 yards

At Colorado

See also: 2020 Colorado Buffaloes football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Utes	7	3	14	14	38
No. 21 Buffaloes	0	14	7	0	21

Washington State

See also: 2020 Washington State Cougars football team

Washington State Cougars (1–2) at Utah Utes (2–2)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	7	21	0	0	28
Utes	0	7	14	24	45

at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah

• Date: December 19, 2020
• Game time: 10:30 a.m. PST
• Game weather: Partly cloudy, 38 °F (3 °C)
• Game attendance: 0
• Referee: Mark Duddy
• TV: FS1

Game information

First Quarter WSU – Max Borghi 8-yard run (Blake Mazza kick), 4:34. Washington State 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 57 yards, 4:26. Second Quarter WSU – Deon McIntosh 11-yard run (Blake Mazza kick), 8:31. Washington State 14–0. Drive: 7 plays, 88 yards, 4:01. UTAH – Britain Covey 91-yard pass from Jake Bentley (Jadon Redding kick), 3:37. Washington State 14–7. Drive: 3 plays, 95 yards, 0:58. WSU – Jamire Calvin 8-yard pass from Jayden de Laura (Blake Mazza kick), 1:51. Washington State 21–7. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:46. WSU – Jayden de Laura 3-yard run (Blake Mazza kick), 1:21. Washington State 28–7. Drive: 1 play, 3 yards, 0:04. Third Quarter UTAH – Ty Jordan 5-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 6:09. Washington State 28–14. Drive: 9 plays, 81 yards, 4:39. UTAH – Bryan Thompson 9-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 0:55. Washington State 28–21. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:38. Fourth Quarter UTAH – Ty Jordan 33-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 12:01. Tied 28–28. Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 2:15. UTAH – Ty Jordan 13-yard run (Jadon Redding kick), 6:29. Utah 35–28. Drive: 2 plays, 13 yards, 0:12. UTAH – Jadon Redding 44-yard field goal, 2:37. Utah 38–28. Drive: 7 plays, 30 yards, 3:37. UTAH – Clark Phillips III 36-yard interception return (Jadon Redding kick), 2:06. Utah 45–28. Top passers WSU – Jayden de Laura – 17/28, 204 yards, TD, int UTAH – Jake Bentley – 7/14, 153 yards, TD, int Top rushers WSU – Max Borghi – 10 rushes, 95 yards, TD UTAH – Ty Jordan – 22 rushes, 154 yards, 3 TD Top receivers WSU – Jamire Calvin – 7 receptions, 104 yards, TD UTAH – Britain Covey – 6 receptions, 134 yards, TD