Utah vs. No. 21 Colorado Livestream: Utes Trails 21-10 Early 3Q
Utah will have a chance to make a statement on national television.
In what is expected to be a showdown in the snow with the entire nation watching, Utah will travel to Boulder to face Colorado on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. MT. The game will be broadcast on FOX following the cancelation of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry game.
This is huge opportunity for both the Utes and Buffaloes as FOX will have its ‘A’ team call the game in Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft on the call. It will the premier game in the nation for that time slot, with most of the eyes of the country watching.
The game was originally expected to be played on Friday night and air on FS1. But with the Ohio State-Michigan cancelation, it left FOX with an open slot. The Utah-Colorado game was by far the best option, especially with the Buffaloes coming at No. 21 in the latest CFP rankings and Utah notching its first win of the season last week.
What makes Saturday morning special for this young Utah team as it’s the first time they’ll be playing in a game where the words “underdog” and “spoiler” will be synonymous with who they are. The Utes are also hoping that a victory against the Buffaloes will be the last time those words are are associated with the program.
“It felt great. A ‘W’ is a ‘W’,” junior wide receiver Britain Covey said following Utah’s 30-24 win over Oregon State on Saturday. “This is a young team. There are a lot of things to learn. This season, you’ve got to find the positives in it. We’re so happy to get a win. We’re sick of losing.”
It’s not going to be easy for the Utes as the game will be at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. With temperatures hovering around freezing and snow flurries expected, it’s going to be a battle in the trenches as both teams feature prominent running games with subpar passing capabilities.
Utah freshman running back Ty Jordan, the reigning Pac-12 freshman of the week, Colorado sophomore Jarek Broussard, the nation’s No. 2 rusher, are expected to be the stars and shine brightest given the weather conditions. But they’ll both be going up against talented front sevens that pride themselves on stopping the run and make teams one dimensional.
Follow this livestream for updates and analysis. You can also follow @Ryan_Kostecka and @UtahUtes_SI on Twitter for up-to-the-second action.
PREGAME
*30 minutes before kickoff, temperature is currently 22 degrees with no snow falling. However, there is a solid dusting of snow on the field
*Snow is expected to fall throughout parts of the game, potentially putting a damper on throwing the ball
*Curious to see what Jake Bentley looks like throwing a football in the snow. Have to wonder if this is his first time playing in this sort of inclement weather…
*Wide receiver Britain Covey is no longer limited after getting in a full week of practice — he’s good to go
*Fellow wide receivers Bryan Thompson and Samson Nacua are back healthy and should be full participants.
*Starting center Orlando Umana is expected to dress but will not see action unless in an emergency situation.
FIRST QUARTER
*Colorado has won the toss and deferred. Utah will receive to start the game…
*Utah will begin the game with the ball at its own 40 after a nice return by Covey…
*Bentley to Kuithe on the first play, wish is exactly what you want to see. 24-yard catch and run and the ball is now at Colorado 36
*Jordan’s burst is unreal, just blasting through the line to get into the second level. First carry goes for 17 yards. Ball at the Colorado 10
*On third down, Bentley connects with Enis on a delayed slant route for the 6-yd TD pass
Utah 7 – Colorado 0
12:03 left 1Q
Scoring Drive: 6 plays, 60 yards in 2:57
Great opening drive ends with a 6-yd TD pass from Bentley to Enis
*Impressive opening drive by the Utes. Great mix of runs and passes, including getting Bentley out of the pocket to make some plays. By far the best he’s looked this early in a game…
*Great play-calling by Ludwig. Getting the ball to his playmakers and having them go north-to-south really fast. OL got loose and looked dominant. Capitalizing in the red zone… huge start for the Utes
*Colorado will begin with the ball at its own 10 after a holding penalty on the Buffs
*If you had Colorado throwing the ball every time on its first four plays, head to Vegas now and bet the house….
*Sack by freshman safety Nate Ritchie forces a third-and-long, and the Utes get off the field by forcing a Colorado punt.
*Utah begins its second drive with great field position at its own 45…
*Love what Scalley is doing early. He’s loading the box and forcing Noyer to throw, while playing tight coverage with his secondary. He figures his defensive front can get to Noyer if the DB’s can lockdown early on
*Creative play call on first down sets up a TE screen to Kuithe, who then gets 19 yards to put the ball into the Colorado territory
*Utah looks completely different on offense with just a little bit of creativity and getting the ball to the playmakers. It’s a shocking difference and makes you wonder how good this team really could be…
*Bentley with his first miss of the day on third down… had a wide open Kuithe but just overthrew him. Utah forced to punt and Colorado will take over at its own 5…
*Not a good look by Bentley. He had a wide open Kuithe (like WIDE OPEN) and for whatever reason just sails the ball on him. Is it the cold or what? Either way, that’s the sort of play that keep Utah from being elite and dominant on offense…
*Utah’s defense is absolutely swarming right now. Keeping things in front of them and rallying to the ball. Mataele with a great pass breakup on third down to force another Colorado punt.
*Covey gets a 7 yard return, Utah takes over at own 45 with 6:10 to play in opening quarter…
*Really impressed with Utah’s defensive backs this season. After replacing ALL 5 starters from last years, four of which are underclassmen now, they’ve consistently risen to the challenge and get better every single week…
*Really curious at which point Dorrell and Colorado will realize they have the nation’s leading rusher and give him the ball. He doesn’t have a single carry through Colorado’s first two drives…
*Utah goes three-and-out on offense as Colorado flies around to force a net gain of three yards
*Colorado will take over at own 19 after a fair catch
*Broussard’s first carry goes for no gain… but Noyer then hooks up with Nixon for a 41-yard gain to Utah’s 39
*Colorado fumble, Tupai with the hit. Ritchie recovers. Utah takes over at own 43…
*Another three-and-out by Utah’s offense, which has completely lost momentum after opening drive…
*Utah’s offense, while staying somewhat creative, has failed to make any adjustments since the opening drive. Colorado is adjusting and the Utes simply aren’t, hence the lack of offense since that opening scoring drive
*Colorado takes over at own 10 with just over a minute left in the first quarter
*Final play of the quarter is a 41-yd throw and catch from Noyer to Shenault. Phillips got burned and was then whistled for PI, but Shenault still hauled it in… CU ball at Utah 35
Utah 7 – Colorado 0
End of 1Q
*Utah with a dominant opening drive, but nothing since then. Defense playing well with a TO already. CU ball at Utah 35 on 1st-and-10 upcoming…
*Noyer has an absolute cannon, and looks a lot better than I thought he would as a former safety… connects with Maurice Bell with a 21-yard TD pass…
Utah 7 – Colorado 7
12:46 left 2Q
Scoring Drive: 11 plays, 90 yards, 3:33
Noyer with two big passing plays to even up the score
*Not much the Utah DB’s could’ve done as it was a great route and even better throw against Utah’s patented Cover-2 defense…
*Covey is swarmed on the return, Utah will begin with the ball at its own 11
*Bentley to Enis for 16 yards is ruled a catch, but the ball hit the turf and will be ruled incomplete. Enis was wide open and Bentley missed him again…
*Good play by Bentley, who’s flushed from the pocket, hits Enis on 3rd-and-10 for a 20-yard gain…
*Those last two pass plays by Bentley are what makes him so frustrating. On one end, misses a wide open Enis for a first down. Then he does a great job of extending the play and makes a great throw to Enis for a huge first down pickup…
*Utah with another big pickup on third down, this time with Bentley connecting with Covey for a 13-yard gain
*Fotheringham just hurdled a Colorado defensive player, had absolutely no idea he was that athletic…
*The drive comes to an absolute halt as Bentley badly misses on an overthrow and Colorado easily gets the INT. Buffs ball at own 17 with 9:07 left in the half…
*This is beyond baffling and has to stop. I’m having a difficult time believing that Bentley and his turnovers gives Utah a significantly better chance at winning compared to Lisk… anybody disagree?!?
*Apparently Bentley got his hand hit on the throw… but hard to imagine it affected the overthrow that much…
*Colorado with the momentum and doing much of its damage through the air, which is what the Utes are daring the Buffs to do. Utah gives up a first down on third-and-9…
*Noyer in a great rhythm right now… Utah daring him to beat the Utes by stacking the box and he’s doing so. Utes need to find a way to get pressure and break up the timing of his passes…
*Utah’s defense finally gets its stop and forces a Colorado punt. Buffs have flipped the field and the Utes will take over at own 20 with 5:21 left in the half…
*Sort of a big drive upcoming for the offense. Haven’t had much success until that last drive ended in a Bentley INT. CU gets the ball after the half, Utes could use a long drive that ends in a score…
*WOW, Bentley missed a wide open Kuithe for what should’ve been a 20-yard gain — and it wasn’t even close. Kuithe definitely showing some frustration after that throw…
*Another questionable throw by Bentley but Covey somehow hauls it in and picks up the first down…
*Colorado star LB Nate Landman just dropped on the field with a non-contact injury. He’s in a lot of pain and it doesn’t look good… only reason Fotheringham was wide open…
*Landman was dropping into coverage and planted to move break sideways but then just crumpled. Thought he might have slipped on the snow, but it seems much worse than that… Prayers Up…
*Should be noted thatL Landman is an absolute Warrior. He picks up the slack for this Colorado defense in a lot of ways. Already has 6 tackles late in the 2Q. He was helped off the field but in serious pain…
*Utah fails to convert on third down as Colorado gets the sack. And then Brenden Rice takes the punt back for a TD…
Utah 7 – Colorado 14
1:30 left 2Q
Utah’s punt coverage forgets to do its job and Brenden Rice takes it back 81 yards for the score…
*Covey’s return gives Utah the ball at its own 42. Huge drive upcoming as the Utes need points on this drive considering the Buffs get the ball to start the 3Q…
*Shocker, Bentley misses a wide open Covey who had nothing but green in front of him… Utah forced to punt…
*It’s beyond baffling how bad Utah’s offense has looked since the opening drive. Bentley has missed a handful of huge throws already… just out of rhythm and out of sync… not sure what needs to change but something does…
*Colorado fumbles and Utah recovers with 10 seconds left… Utes ball at CU 40…
*Two pass plays to Covey will force a Utah 43-yd FG attempt by Redding…
Utah 10 – Colorado 14
HALFTIME
Utah capitalizes on the fumble and turns into a 43-yd FG by Redding
HALFTIME
Utah vs. Colorado — Halftime Stats
*Back to Bentley’s missed throw to Covey. Jordan was seen on camera just shaking his head staring at Bentley after the throw. This team has zero confidence in him as a QB to lead them to victory… is a change upcoming…???
*Utes doing a good job in rush defense, holding Broussard to just 30 yards and Noyer to 8. But Noyer is doing a good job through the air… Utes must dial up more pressure
*Jordan has had a rough go of things except for two big runs. Utah must find a way to get the running game going because Bentley won’t win this game with his arm…
*Utah has struggled with halftime adjustments this season, curious to see what Whittingham and Ludwig do differently on offense. Scalley doing a solid job defensively…
THIRD QUARTER
*Colorado to begin with the ball at its own 39
*That was fast. First play of the half is a 61-yard catch and run by Rice for a Colorado TD
Utah 10 – Colorado 21
14:39 left 3Q
Brenden Rice, Jerry’s son, takes a bubble screen and outruns the Utah defense for a 61-yd TD. Bad angles and tackling by the Utes on that one…
*BIG DRIVE UPCOMING. Utah doesn’t need to score but cannot afford a turnover or three-and-out… a lot of pressure upcoming on Bentley. Curious to see how that TD changes Utah’s play-calling…
*Utah will start with ball at own 25…
*Welcome to the game Ty Jordan. He runs for 35 yards to put the ball at CU 25… now Utes must capitalize…
*TOUCHDOWN JORDAN!!!
Utah 17 – Colorado 21
13:14 left 3Q
Scoring Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards in 1:25
Jordan got loose and picked up 53 yards in two carries, the last of which was an 18-yd TD run
*That’s one heck of a response by the Utah offense. With Landman out, Utes believe they can run at will on the Buffaloes and it showed there…
*Colorado will begin with the ball at its own 25…
*Heck of a play by Broughton, came up to stop Colorado short of the marker on 3rd-and-4, forcing a CU punt…
*Covey got blasted — the man legitimately has no fear!!! Utah ball at own 20…
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