The Utes weren't able to shake off their losing streak, falling 17-14 to the Houston Cougars in what has become a disheartening trend for the team and fans. The last-second field goal by Houston's Jack Martin sealed the Utes' fourth consecutive defeat. "We seem to keep finding the same blueprint to lose," said Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, as per ABC4, in a post-game summation that was as blunt as it was true.
Amidst the struggle, the Utes made a significant change at offensive coordinator, with Mike Bajakian stepping in for Andy Ludwig, and also swapped quarterbacks, giving Brandon Rose the nod over Isaac Wilson during the third quarter. However, these changes could not ignite the offensive spark the team needed. "Trying to get a spark, trying to create something. We had only scored one touchdown and just didn’t seem to be gaining any momentum offensively, so we figured it was time to give Brandon an opportunity," Whittingham explained, as reported by Deseret News.
Despite a dismal offensive performance, there were brief moments of hope. Brant Kuithe's 71-yard touchdown reception was an early highlight, yet the Utes were only able to cobble together a total of 306 yards and 12 first downs by the game's end. As for Houston, A.J. Haulcy's interception with less than two minutes to go set up the game-winning drive. "That’s a kicker’s dream," Martin said after the game, reflecting on his decisive field goal, according to ABC4.
Despite the new lows, running back Micah Bernard remained optimistic, stating, "We can only go one way... Where do we go now? We keep going to try to get a win... We have to figure something out. We have to put a W in the win column. That’s the only way we can go." The sentiment highlights the resilience within the team, but the fact remains that they are lacking in execution on the field. This was underscored by a clear struggle to make significant offensive inroads, especially in rushing, where they fell short of the century mark yet again. Houston coach Willie Fritz found his 250th head coaching victory against the Utes, a piece of personal success juxtaposed against Utah's ongoing disappointment, as noted by KSL Sports.
