As season hits midway point, Whittingham not ruling out Rising, Kuithe medical redshirt

SALT LAKE CITY — Neither Cam Rising nor Brant Kuithe have taken a snap for Utah this season. As the season hit the midway point over the weekend vs. Cal, there is no promise that either player will take a snap this year.

The possibility of Rising and/or Kuithe not playing at all has opened up another interesting possibility. If neither plays a snap this season, they would qualify for a medical redshirt from the NCAA, which means they could return to college football for a seventh season in 2024.

That is not to say either player intends to seek a seventh year, but it is an obvious, intriguing option on the table as two pillars of Utah's offense continue to sit, Rising coming off major reconstructive surgery, and Kuithe with a torn ACL. Rising suffered most of his injury Jan. 2 at the Rose Bowl, while Kuithe went down Sept. 24, 2022 at Arizona State.

Asked about the possibility of medical redshirts for both players during his weekly Monday press conference, Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham didn't exactly shoot the idea down.

"It is a possibility, but it hasn't really been talked about at length or in detail," Whittingham said. "But certainly that is something that is one way this thing could break, so we'll see what happens."

In these two particular cases, Rising and Kuithe would have to play in zero games this season to qualify for a medical redshirt. As Whittingham explained, if a player plays and gets hurt within the first four games, then gets hurt, that falls within the parameters. If a player gets hurt, say in fall camp or even earlier, and plays at all during the season, the medical redshirt qualification goes away.

Rising and Kuithe being hurt last season and not playing at all this season would make their cases to the NCAA for a seventh year, as Whittingham put it, "a slam dunk."

In fairness, the notion of taking a medical redshirt does not jive with the consistent public messaging from Whittingham, as well as Rising, that both still want to play this season. If a decision on 2024 is to be made, it might be made at least partially based on what is happening in 2023.

With its offense largely stuck in mud this season, 14th-ranked Utah heads to the LA Coliseum Saturday evening still with everything to play for at 2-1 in the Pac-12, but with a gauntlet of USC, Oregon, and conference-leading Washington all coming inside the next month.

If that stretch goes poorly, say 1-2 or worse, and qualifying for the Pac-12 championship game is off the table with Rising and Kuithe still having not played a down, the calls for sitting entirely will get louder. Aside from this season, age, health, NFL draft stock, and even NIL opportunities will all have a voice if a 2024 decision needs to be made.

For now, the only thing Whittingham can look at with his two stars is what is directly in front of him, which is the Trojans.

"It's just a situation where we're just waiting week after week for a thumbs up," Whittingham said. "Here we are at the midpoint, so I don't know. I don't want to say the clock is ticking, but we would love to have either or both those guys back as soon as possible, but again, it's just a waiting game, and waiting for the go ahead, waiting for the green light."

Cole Bishop appeal denied, will sit first half at USC

Whittingham said the appeal on Cole Bishop's targeting penalty and subsequent ejection early in the fourth quarter vs. Cal was denied.

Bishop will be suspended for the first half against USC, which is no small thing as the Trojans, led by reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, boast the nation's No. 8 passing offense (332.9 yards per game) and No. 9 total offense (491.7 yards per game).

"I don't want to really whine about it, but it was — I still don't see how it happened, or how it was called, and how it got denied on appeal," Whittingham said, echoing similar incredulous thoughts on the call from his postgame remarks after the Cal win. "So, it's baffling, but there is nothing we can do about it, so you move forward."

Moving forward means Nate Ritchie will slide into Bishop's safety spot, opposite Sione Vaki. Ritchie, a fourth-year sophomore who started all five games at strong safety in 2020 as a true freshman before embarking on a church mission, came on in relief of Bishop against Cal, registering four total tackles, including a sack.

"Nate played some good football for us on Saturday and has played some really good football for us in years past, so we've got a ton of confidence in Nate," Whittingham said.

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