Utah Utes Football: History, Coach, Rivals, and so on

The 2024 Utah Utes football team is all set to take on the Big 12 Conference, representing the University of Utah. Led by head coach Kyle Whittingham for the 20th year, they'll play their games at Salt Lake City's Rice-Eccles Stadium. It's an exciting year as they embark on their first season in the Big 12, ready to tackle new challenges and make their mark.

Name of Team	Utah Utes Football Team
First season	1892
Athletic director	Mark Harlan
Head coach	Kyle Whittingham 20th season, 154–74 (.675)
Stadium	Rice–Eccles Stadium (capacity: 51,444)
Location	Salt Lake City, Utah
Conference	Pac-12
Division	South (2011–2021)
Field surface	FieldTurf
Conference titles	26
Division titles	4 (2015, 2018, 2019, 2021)
Fight song	Utah Man
Mascot	Swoop
Rivals	Colorado (Rumble in the Rockies) BYU (Holy War) Utah State (Battle of the Brothers)
Consensus All-Americans	10

Utah Utes Football Team Introduction

The Utah Utes football team, representing the University of Utah, competes in the Pac-12 Conference. Since 1892, they've called Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City home. With an impressive history, they've clinched 28 conference titles across different leagues. Notably, their 17-8 record in major bowl games ranks them fourth nationwide in bowl win percentage. They've made memorable appearances in the Fiesta Bowl and Sugar Bowl, securing victories against formidable opponents. Transitioning to the Pac-12 has sparked success across various sports, including skiing, gymnastics, and volleyball. Football's seen championship games and high rankings, reflecting the Utes' athletic prowess and competitive spirit.

Utah Utes Football Team History

The Utah Utes football program boasts a rich history spanning 127 seasons. Beginning in 1892, they faced challenges but quickly gained momentum, winning conference championships and accolades. Coaches like Joe Maddock and Ike Armstrong ushered in eras of success, with Armstrong guiding the team to its first bowl game victory in 1939. Under "Cactus" Jack Curtice, they popularized innovative offensive strategies. In the mid-1990s, they became a national force, securing nine consecutive bowl victories. Notably, as the original "BCS Buster," they triumphed in the Fiesta Bowl and Sugar Bowl. Their consistent performance has earned them Top 25 rankings and unwavering fan support at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Utah Utes Football Team Coaches

Head Coach Profile

Kyle David Whittingham, born November 21, 1959, is an American football coach and former player. Serving as the head football coach at the University of Utah since 2005, he's revered as the program's all-time wins leader. Before his head coaching tenure, Whittingham spent a decade as Utah's defensive coordinator. Notably, he earned recognition as the AFCA Coach of the Year and received the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award in 2008. Under his leadership, the 2008 Utah Utes football team achieved an undefeated season, clinching victory in the 2009 Sugar Bowl. Whittingham's illustrious career includes playing college football for the BYU Cougars and stints in professional football leagues.

#	Name	Term
1	Robert Harkness	1894
2	Walter Shoup	1895
3	C.B. Ferris	1896
4	Byron Cummings	1897
5	Benjamin Wilson	1898
6	Charles Gatehouse	1899
7	Harvey Holmes	1900–1903
8	Joe Maddock	1904–1909
9	Fred Bennion	1910–1913
10	Nelson Norgren	1914–1917
11	Thomas Fitzpatrick	1919–1924
12	Ike Armstrong	1925–1949
13	Jack Curtice	1950–1957
14	Ray Nagel	1958–1965
15	Mike Giddings	1966–1967
16	Bill Meek	1968–1973
17	Tom Lovat	1974–1976
18	Wayne Howard	1977–1981
19	Chuck Stobart	1982–1984
20	Jim Fassel	1985–1989
21	Ron McBride	1990–2002
22	Urban Meyer	2003–2004
23	Kyle Whittingham	2005–present

Utah Utes Football Team Stadium

Rice–Eccles Stadium, located at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, is the home turf of the Utah Utes football team in the Pac-12 Conference. Renowned for its role as the main stadium for the 2002 Winter Olympics, it hosted both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Initially built in 1927 as Ute Stadium, it underwent extensive renovation in the late 1990s to meet Olympic standards, partly thanks to a generous donation from the Eccles family. The stadium boasts a FieldTurf playing field and sits at an elevation of 4,637 feet above sea level, offering a breathtaking backdrop for football.

Utah Utes Football Team Rivals

Holy War: BYU vs. Utah

The Holy War represents the intense rivalry between BYU and Utah, dating back to their first meeting in 1896. Despite religious connotations, it's a fiercely contested battle on the football field. Notably, the schools have disputed the series' early meetings, but since 1922, Utah has led the series 59–32–4. The game is anticipated by fans and journalists alike, earning recognition as one of the top rivalry games. BYU snapped a nine-game losing streak in 2021, adding more fuel to the rivalry fire—the team's next clash in the 2024 season.

Battle of the Brothers: Utah vs. Utah State

The Battle of the Brothers is the longstanding football rivalry between Utah and Utah State. With roots dating back to 1892, it's marked by competitive spirit despite recent dominance by Utah. Utah leads the series 79–30–4. Although no games are scheduled presently, the rivalry remains significant in the eyes of both teams.

Rumble in the Rockies: Utah vs. Colorado

The Rumble in the Rockies reignites the rivalry between Utah and Colorado, dormant for nearly 50 years before being revived with their entry into the Pac-12. Colorado led the series before its discontinuation, but Utah has since taken the lead. The teams have discussed introducing a trophy to accelerate the rivalry's development. Notable games have had division title implications, adding stakes to the matchups. Utah currently leads the series 34-32-3.

Utah Utes Football Team Record and Stats

National championships

In 2008, the Utah Utes had a remarkable season in college football. They won the Mountain West Conference championship and went undefeated, ranking No. 7 in both the AP and Coaches polls at the end of the regular season. Despite their impressive record, they were not chosen to play in the BCS National Championship Game. Instead, they faced Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and secured a victory, finishing the season with a perfect 13-0 record.

In the final AP Poll, they were ranked No. 2, receiving 16 first-place votes. Coach Kyle Whittingham even ranked them No. 1 on his Coaches Poll ballot, although they officially placed No. 4. While some selectors named them national champions, the school does not claim this title.

Year	Coach	Selectors	Record
2008	Kyle Whittingham	Anderson & Hester, Wolfe	13–0

Conference championships

Utah has won 26 conference championships in five different conferences during their history.

Year	Conference	Coach	Overall record	Conference record
1912	Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference	Fred Bennion	5–1-1	4–1
1922	Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference	Thomas Fitzpatrick	7–1	5–0
1926	Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference	Ike Armstrong	7–0	5–0
1928	Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference	Ike Armstrong	5–0–2	4–0–1
1929	Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference	Ike Armstrong	7–0	6–0
1930	Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference	Ike Armstrong	8–0	7–0
1931	Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference	Ike Armstrong	7–2	6–0
1932	Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference	Ike Armstrong	6–1–1	6–0
1933	Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference	Ike Armstrong	5–3	5–1
1938	Big Seven Conference	Ike Armstrong	7–1–2	4–0–2
1940	Big Seven Conference	Ike Armstrong	7–2	5–1
1941	Big Seven Conference	Ike Armstrong	6–0–2	4–0–2
1942	Big Seven Conference	Ike Armstrong	6–3	5–1
1947	Big Seven Conference	Ike Armstrong	8–1–1	6–0
1948	Skyline Conference	Ike Armstrong	8–1–1	5–0
1951	Skyline Conference	Jack Curtice	7–4	4–1
1952	Skyline Conference	Jack Curtice	6–3–1	5–0
1953	Skyline Conference	Jack Curtice	8–2	5–0
1957	Skyline Conference	Jack Curtice	6–4	5–1
1964	Western Athletic Conference	Ray Nagel	9–2	3–1
1995	Western Athletic Conference	Ron McBride	7–4	6–2
1999	Mountain West Conference	Ron McBride	9–3	5–2
2003	Mountain West Conference	Urban Meyer	10–2	6–1
2004	Mountain West Conference	Urban Meyer	12–0	7–0
2008	Mountain West Conference	Kyle Whittingham	13–0	8–0
2021	Pac-12 Conference	Kyle Whittingham	10–4	8–1
2022	Pac-12 Conference	Kyle Whittingham	10–4	7–2

Division championships

Utah has won four division championships, all in the South division of the Pac-12 Conference.

Year	Division	Coach	CG Opponent	CG result
2015	Pac-12 South	Kyle Whittingham	N/A lost tiebreaker to USC
2018			Washington	L 3–10
2019			Oregon	L 15–37
2021			Oregon	W 38–10

Utah Utes Football Team Roster

Here are the current players, captains, leaders, and injury updates for the team:

Quarterbacks:

Bryson Barnes (Junior)

Luke Bottari (Senior)

Mack Howard (Freshman)

Nate Johnson (Freshman)

Cameron Rising (Senior)

Brandon Rose (Freshman)

Steve Smedley (Freshman)

Running Backs:

Micah Bernard (Junior)

Chris Curry (Senior)

Jaylon Glover (Sophomore)

Ja'Quinden Jackson (Sophomore)

Mike Mitchell (Freshman)

John Randle Jr. (Freshman)

Hunter Schroeder (Freshman)

Dijon Stanley (Freshman)

Charlie Vincent (Junior)

Daniel Wood (Freshman)

Wide Receivers:

Brandon Bethel (Freshman)

Luca Caldarella (Junior)

Makai Cope (Sophomore)

Kaimana Hanohano (Freshman)

Mikey Matthews (Freshman)

Sidney Mbanasor (Freshman)

Munir McClain (Junior)

Jett Meine (Freshman)

Money Parks (Junior)

Mycah Pittman (Senior)

Peyton Rice (Freshman)

Emery Simmons (Senior)

Devaughn Vele (Not listed)

Daidren Zipperer (Freshman)

Tight Ends:

Noah Bennee (Sophomore)

Dallen Bentley (Sophomore)

Cody Christensen (Freshman)

Hayden Erickson (Sophomore)

CJ Jacobsen (Freshman)

Landen King (Sophomore)

Brant Kuithe (Senior)

Miki Suguturaga (Junior)

Luke Tucker (Freshman)

Thomas Yassmin (Not listed)

Offensive Line:

Roger Alderman (Freshman)

Keaton Bills (Not listed)

Hunter Deuel (Freshman)

Jacob Edmonds (Freshman)

Kolinu'u Faaiu (Sophomore)

Spencer Fano (Freshman)

Alex Harrison (Junior)

Falcon Kaumatule (Junior)

Jaren Kump (Sophomore)

Sataoa Laumea (Not listed)

Caleb Lomu (Freshman)

Johnny Maea (Senior)

Shintaro Mann (Junior)

Solatoa Moeai (Freshman)

Michael Mokofisi (Sophomore)

Keith Olson (Freshman)

Isaia Thompson (Freshman)

Tanoa Togiai (Sophomore)

Zereoue Williams (Sophomore)

Defensive Line:

Ka'eo Akana (Freshman)

Jonah Ellis (Not listed)

Logan Fano (Freshman)

Van Fillinger (Junior)

Chase Kennedy (Freshman)

Jonah Lea'ea (Freshman)

Gavin Nawahine (Sophomore)

Connor O'Toole (Junior)

Helaman Ofahengaue (Freshman)

Vili Taufatofua (Sophomore)

Jori Benson (Sophomore)

Tevita Fotu (Sophomore)

Austin LaRue (Freshman)

James LeBaron (Freshman)

Simote Pepa (Sophomore)

Bobby Piland (Freshman)

Junior Tafuna (Junior)

Keanu Tanuvasa (Freshman)

Nifai Tonga (Freshman)

Aliki Vimahi (Junior)

Linebackers:

Lander Barton (Sophomore)

Josh Calvert (Junior)

Owen Chambliss (Freshman)

Spencer Clegg (Freshman)

Levani Damuni (Junior)

Sione Fotu (Freshman)

Hayden Furey (Senior)

Justin Medlock (Freshman)

Shay O'Kelly (Freshman)

Karene Reid (Junior)

Jason Siaosi (Senior)

Cornerbacks:

Miles Battle (Not listed)

CJ Blocker (Freshman)

JaTravis Broughton (Senior)

Elijah Davis (Freshman)

Nick Howe (Sophomore)

Tao Johnson (Freshman)

Kenzel Lawler (Sophomore)

Jocelyn Malaska (Freshman)

Faybian Marks (Junior)

Smith Snowden (Freshman)

Xane Uipi (Freshman)

Zemaiah Vaughn (Junior)

Safeties:

Briton Allen (Junior)

Cole Bishop (Not listed)

Ben Durham (Freshman)

Johnathan Hall (Freshman)

Austin Keetch (Freshman)

Brock Nowatzke (Freshman)

Bryson Reeves (Junior)

Nate Ritchie (Freshman)

Darrien Stewart (Sophomore)

Sione Vaki (Not listed)

Special Teams:

Cole Becker (Junior)

Chase Carter (Senior)

Joey Cheek (Freshman)

Tanner Cragun (Sophomore)

Jack Bouwmeester (Sophomore)

Nathan Price (Sophomore)

Justice Brusatto (Sophomore)

Logan Castor (Freshman)

JT Greep (Junior)