Washington’s defense stepped up in a large way during the second half, holding the Utes to 90 yards, four first downs and shutting them out. 

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Utah blocked Washington’s attempt for insurance points, as Utes defensive end Connor O’Toole stopped the Huskies’ field goal attempt to keep it a 35-28 game with 1:38 left to play. 

The Utes had one more try to tie or take the lead in the game. Three pass attempts by quarterback Bryson Barnes went incomplete, and it set up for a big fourth down and 10. 

Barnes dropped back to pass and slung the ball over the middle of the field, but Washington defensive back Dominique Hampton intercepted Barnes’ last gasp at a comeback. 

The Utes held a 28-24 halftime lead after the game appeared to be a shootout in the first half. Both teams matched one another touchdown-for-touchdown, and Utah running back Ja’Quinden Jackson ran in a score from 7 yards out to help Utah get to 28 points. 

Penix had a passing and rushing touchdown in the first half. He connected with receiver Rome Odunze on a 30-yard heave midway through the second quarter. 

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The Huskies now move to 10-0 and remain atop the Pac-12 Conference standings. Odunze had 111 yards, two touchdowns and three receptions. 

Barnes finished with 267 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Receiver Devaughn Vele had 145 receiving yards on five catches. 

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Barnes took over for injured Cameron Rising, who’s dealt with a knee injury that’s kept him sidelined since last season’s Rose Bowl. Head coach Kyle Whittingham decided to shut down Rising for the remainder of the season, and that has allowed Barnes a chance to play his own way. 

“I just think the way just he’s operating now, he never was not confident but he seems very sure of himself and very confident in what he’s doing,” Whittingham said. “Really taking charge, just running the team like a quarterback should run it. That ‘it factor’ of being a leader on the field is really starting to manifest for him. And obviously, getting the full allotment of the No. 1 reps now that we know the situation helped him last week as well. So a combination of those things.” 

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Barnes first started the season against Florida and went 12-of-18 for 159 passing yards and a touchdown. It was enough of a performance to set the tone going forward. 

He followed with a subliminal performance at Baylor, throwing an interception and completing just 31.6% of his passes. 

But after not playing against Weber State and getting back in the groove of things against Cal — he threw for 128 yards in the win against the Golden Bears — Barnes is taking the reins of starting quarterback well. 

“Big step forward. He seems to get better each week,” Whittingham said. “He completed over 60% of his balls (last week). He did have the one pick-six and I know he would’ve wanted it back but did a very nice job of running the offense and taking care of the ball except for the one play. And he just seems to continue to grow and develop which is a good thing that obviously is a big positive for us.” 

Barnes threw for a career-high 235 yards and three touchdowns last week against USC. It helped the Utes pick up a quality win on the road, and among Barnes’ few blemishes included a pick-six. 

Utah has dealt with a number of injuries to its current roster. Tight end Brant Kuithe had surgery to repair a torn right ACL and meniscus a year after catching three touchdowns and into his captaincy this season. 

Whittingham said players like Rising and Kuithe can and will remain with the team and travel, and he wishes them well as they recover from injury. 

“We certainly wish they could have been with us. I mean, they’re really good players,” Whittingham said. “They’re two guys that really add to what we’re doing and two of the best players in the Pac 12. But the uncertainty, I don’t want to say it was distraction, but things are settled now and more of a settled feeling and knowing exactly going forward that they’re not going to be available helps us operate and plan in a little different way.” 

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The Utes will be the center of the college football world this week in their ranked matchup with No. 8 Oregon. 

Whittingham said he’ll “have a heavier load in some things” when it comes to game planning. He has his starting quarterback in Barnes behind him, and now the Utes will look to continue their winning ways against a high-powered Ducks offense that leads the Pac-12 in scoring offense. 

“We try to keep the players in as normal of a routine and not break that,” Whittingham said. “There’s going to be a guy or two that’s going to have a little bit extra on his plate but it’s great for the team as far as knowing that, ‘Hey, we’re the center of the college football universe this week,’ I guess. And it’s a very it’s a positive thing for them and a reward of sorts, I guess you could say. For the community, it’s awesome. The university, I mean, bring exposure to our brand and just the university community in general. So I think it’s a win all across the board.” 

The post Barnes ‘really taking charge,’ demonstrating ‘it factor’ as Utah QB  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

That number is two fewer than last week, as North Carolina and Penn State both dropped their first games of the season. 

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The lone 8-0 team is No. 2 Michigan, and the Wolverines have held their spot in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll each week this season. Michigan is No. 1 in scoring defense in the NCAA holding opponents to 5.88 points per game. 

Here are some noteworthy quotes as focus turns from Week 8 to Week 9. 

Tony Elliott, Virginia 

The Cavaliers added a notch under their belt with a 31-27 defeat of the then-No. 10 Tar Heels. 

It served as a milestone victory under second-year head coach Tony Elliott, who previously served as the offensive coordinator at Clemson. He’s no stranger to a big game. 

So after receiver Malik Washington hauled in the go-ahead touchdown and James Jackson intercepted North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, Elliott and Virginia enjoyed plenty of celebration after the game. 

“It’s awesome,” Elliott said. “For me, it’s really just the sounds, the smiles, the smell, just everything about it being present in the moment, and that’s what you coach for is an opportunity to see your guys celebrate victory and more so just a confirmation of all the work that they put in. The belief that they that they had for 60 minutes, just the hard days that they’ve been through to all culminate to experience that joy in the locker room. So it’s an experience that’s hard to describe but that’s why you coach to see these young men experience joy like that.” 

Greg Schiano, Rutgers 

The Scarlet Knights are going bowling. 

Head coach Greg Schiano and Rutgers clinched bowl eligibility for the first time since 2014 after beating Indiana on the road 31-14. The Scarlet Knights were a COVID replacement team in the Gator Bowl in 2020. 

Schiano was seen in the locker room postgame delivering a long-awaited message to the Scarlet Knights team. 

“Nothing matters to us. We just stay on that spot, right? This is a big, big step for the program. There’s no doubt about it guys, right? It’s been a while this program’s been bowl eligible. What did I say?” Schiano said. “So that feels good. I can’t tell you how proud I am of the way you guys fought through eight straight weeks, the eighth week being on the road after an emotional win. All the things that coaches lose sleep over. You son of a guns. You battled together. Let’s have a little celebration on this plate ride home.” 

Kyle Whittingham, Utah 

Utah has had USC’s number over the past two seasons. 

The Utes earned another victory over the Trojans on Saturday, their fourth-consecutive dating back to the 2020 season. 

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The Trojans had their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams under center for them this time around, and Utah was without starting quarterback Cam Rising who has been shut down for the remainder of the season due to injury. 

Utah backup Bryson Barnes did his best to outduel Williams, throwing for 235 yards, three touchdowns and an interception to Williams’ 256 yards and 70.6% completion. 

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham affirmed belief in Barnes after the game. 

“They got a Heisman Trophy-winner at quarterback and so they’re going to make some things and that’s just the way it is, but we got ourselves a pig farmer at quarterback so we’re proud of that guy too and they love him,” Whittingham said. 

The post Quotables: Week 8  appeared first on Saturday Glory.