Utes wrap up first Rose Bowl berth
Rout of Ducks makes program history and caps emotional year mourning two players.
Devin Lloyd returned an interception for a touchdown, Cam Rising threw for another score and No. 17 Utah clinched the first Rose Bowl berth in school history with a 38-10 victory over No. 10 Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game Friday night in Las Vegas.
This game was a near carbon copy of the one in Salt Lake City two weeks ago when the Utes (10-3) jumped out early and won 38-7.
While that game all but ended the playoff hopes for Oregon (10-3), the rematch delivered coach Kyle Whittingham and the Utes the Rose Bowl prize they had been seeking since joining the Pac-12 in 2011.
It capped an emotional last 12 months for the Utes program that has dealt with the deaths of two players.
Utah had lost its first two trips to the conference title game, including two years ago to Oregon, but left little doubt this time.
Rising engineered a touchdown drive on the opening possession after converting a sneak on fourth down near midfield. Tavon Thomas capped it with a two-yard run.
There was an emotional moment during a break in the second quarter when the Utah fans took part in their “moment of loudness” to honor Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe, who both died of gunshot wounds nine months apart.
A video tribute was played as many of the 56,511 fans lighted up Allegiant Stadium with cellphone flashlights.
Lowe’s mother, Donna Lowe-Sterns, also served as an honorary captain for the game.
Conference USA
Sincere McCormick rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns and Texas San Antonio (12-1) escaped another prolific performance by Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe to beat the Hilltoppers 49-41 and claim their first Conference USA championship in front of 41,148 at the Alamodome.
Zappe completed 36 of 59 passes for 577 yards and four touchdowns for the Hilltoppers (8-5).