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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah squandered three prime opportunities late in the game against Oregon in a hostile Autzen Stadium.
The Utes battled back from a 14-point deficit, tied the game, and the Ducks managed only a field goal with just over 11 minutes left in the game. Utah's defense held strong and gave the offense its chances, but like much of the night, the team was out of sync and the Oregon field goal became the game winner.
With a top-10 billing, Utah is left, once again, thinking about missed opportunities.
As a result of the late-night loss, Utah dropped to No. 14 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 rankings that were released Sunday morning. The Utes don't fall too far based on two ranked teams battling it out on the field. Oregon moved up to No. 10 with the win.
At the top of the standings for the Pac-12 is No. 5 USC, who entered a Los Angeles showdown with a shootout in their back pocket and a win over rival UCLA — another team with several missed opportunities in a pivotal game. The Trojans secured a spot in the Pac-12 championship game and awaits the last week of the regular season for its opponent.
Also ranked from the Pac-12 is No. 12 Washington, who eased past Colorado, No. 17 UCLA, and No. 22 Oregon State, who left Tempe with a 31-7 win over Arizona State to set up another Top 25 game between both opponents this week against Oregon.
After a too-close-for-comfort weekend for the top teams at the top of the rankings, Georgia remains the top team in the country with 62 of the total 63 first-place votes. Behind the bulldogs is No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 TCU and No. 5 USC — the only change inside the top teams this week due to Tennessee getting blown out by South Carolina.
