Utah roots for hated rival with Big 12 title hopes still alive originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Utah’s locker room was electric Friday, but the Utes’ postseason plans still hinge on the kind of improbable scoreboard rooting few imagined with help needed from BYU.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNo. 13 Utah kept its narrow Big 12 championship path open with a 31-21 win over Kansas. Utes can still play for a conference title. They need Arizona State to beat Arizona on Friday night, then Texas Tech to lose to West Virginia and BYU to beat UCF on Saturday.
Quarterback Devon Dampier threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns, while cornerback Elijah Davis delivered the most pivotal blow with a 97-yard interception return that broke open a fourth quarter that saw Utah put up 21 points.
Larry Simmons hauled in two touchdowns and running back Wayshawn Parker added 95 rushing yards as Utah improved to 10-2 overall and 7-2 in conference play, meeting the 10-win threshold for the third time in five seasons. The defensive backfield finished the night with three interceptions of Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels, closing the book on his six-year college career.
But the celebration came with a reality check. Utah was gashed for 290 rushing yards, a familiar concern after allowing 472 on the ground last week in a win over Kansas State.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“We kept finding ways,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “That’s kind of been the story.”
For Utah fans, the math borders on miracle. Yet, stranger things have happened in November.
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