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SALT LAKE CITY — Three years into the Pac-12 the Utah Utes can no longer count on moral victories. No one involved with the school cares that the team was close in a hard-fought battle — not the Pac-12, not the BCS, not the coaches, not the fans and certainly not the opponent.
No longer are the Utes the underdog trying to "Bust the BCS"; they're part of the establishment — the big boys — and they're finding it difficult to compete week-in and week-out against some of the best competition in college football.
Utah certainly gave it a valiant effort Saturday night in a heartbreaking loss to Oregon State at home, but it does not make up for a much-needed victory — a much-needed start — to become bowl eligible. At this point, a loss is simply a loss — the team was bested by a better team.
Utah's offense has certainly made tremendous progress from years past, but it takes a full-team effort to win the game. Travis Wilson, who dedicated the game to his best friend who passed away in a car accident last week, gave it his all on the field. Wilson did commit three big turnovers that accounted for at least two Oregon State touchdowns, but his determination and composure in the pocket is something the Utes haven't seen for a while.
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Slow start, lack of pass rush doom Utes in Pac-12 shootout
Historically, Utah hasn't fared so well in conference openers since joining the Pac-12. And the 2013 Oregon State Beavers weren't about to let that trend change."He's a guy that has a lot of confidence," head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "My guess is that he's going to be fine. I think he responded after he threw them in the game and it's a great indicator that he was able to put it behind him and keep playing. Certainly the game is not Travis Wilson's fault, I don't mean to paint that picture at all, he's the guy that kept us in the game."
"Travis was a difference maker," tight end Jake Murphy said. "To throw three interceptions and still keep us in that game, he single handedly kept us in that game, and that's impressive. He carried us tonight and he's a leader, despite any of those interceptions."
Wilson put the team on his back and marched the ball down field, both in the air and with his feet. He ended the game going 19 of 33 for 279 yards and two touchdowns and three interceptions. He was the team's leading rusher with 142 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns.
Starting out slow — only 12 total yards on offense in the first quarter — the Utes fought back and ended up with 539 total yards on offense, which was more than Oregon State's 491 yards. The effort was there for Utah's offense, but the defense was lacking — which is something Utah has not struggled with for several years.
Defensively, with the exception of the three turnovers, it was really the biggest factor in the game and the biggest difference in the game. For us, defensively, (turnovers) are a problem that's been there since last year and it's showing up again this year. Until we can get it corrected, we're going to be average on defense at best.
–Kyle Whittingham
While much of the blame could easily be laid on the shoulders of the secondary, there was a lack of pressure up front that allowed Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion to have everything he wanted — tons of time to hit his talented receivers.
"It's not all on the defensive backs, but the front four and the backers that are blitzing — we have to get to the quarterback," linebacker Jason Whittingham said after the game. "We weren't putting very much pressure on (Mannion) all game. He was pretty comfortable in the pocket, and he's a good quarterback, so he was knifing it in there.
"We have to work together," he added. "It's not just on the DB's. We've just got to come back next week and play a little better in our defensive line."
Kyle Whittingham said the lack of pressure and the inability to get a turnover on defense was the game's biggest factor.
"Defensively, with the exception of the three turnovers, it was really the biggest factor in the game and the biggest difference in the game," he said. "For us, defensively, (turnovers) are a problem that's been there since last year and it's showing up again this year. Until we can get it corrected, we're going to be average on defense at best."
While there were positives in the game against Oregon State, it's not enough to be close at then end of the day. Utah must be consistent on both ends of the ball and win the turnover margin.
"Our biggest problem on our whole football team right now is our lack of takeaways on defense," Whittingham said.
