Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham knew what he wanted to do before the drive even started.
As Utah prepared to embark on a 75-yard drive with just over six minutes left to play and down by 7 points to a high-powered USC offense that kept the Utes defense on its toes all night, Whittingham planned to go for the 2-point conversion if his team scored.
Utah quarterback Cameron Rising led the team down field on a 15-play drive that was capped off when he scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown on a fourth-and-1 call at the USC 1-yard line. The ensuing 2-point conversion by Rising to take the lead was just the icing on the cake as Utah ruined USC's undefeated season in a 43-42 win.
It was Utah's 12th straight win at home and the second consecutive win over USC, which is the first time in the series between the two program's since Utah joined the Pac-12.
With the win over the Trojans, the Utes moved up to No. 15 in the Associated Press Top 25 rankings that were released Sunday afternoon, up five from its previous spot at No. 20. Utah is the highest ranked team with two losses in the poll and remains the fourth-highest ranked team from the Pac-12.
In the Trojans' first loss of the season, USC dropped to No. 12 in the rankings, five spots lower than its previous spot at No. 7. The Trojans had been the highest-ranked team in the Pac-12 and was the favorite for a potential College Football Playoff bid, but now the team is the third-highest ranked team from the conference.
UCLA and Oregon, who were both on bye weeks before a meeting on Saturday with ESPN's College GameDay in town, moved up to No. 9 and No. 10, respectively. The Bruins are the only remaining undefeated team in the Pac-12.
At the top of the rankings this week is No. 1 Georgia with 31 first-place votes, followed by No. 2 Ohio State (17) and No. 3 Tennessee (15).
One of the hottest teams in the country this season, the Volunteers upset Alabama at home in a highlight reel, shootout game between two Heisman-caliber quarterbacks in Bryce Young (Alabama) and Henson Hooker (Tennessee). The Vols moved up three spots in the rankings to dethrone Alabama, who moved down to No. 6.
Rounding out the top five teams in the rankings is No. 4 Michigan, who moved up one spot, and No. 5 Clemson, who dropped one spot, after both teams got wins over the weekend.
