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SEATTLE — Utah wanted to play spoiler.
For 30 minutes of game time, Utah was in control against an undefeated Washington team looking to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive.
The Utes offense dictated the terms of the game, the defense held up against Heisman contender Michael Penix Jr., and Utah held a 4-point lead going into the halftime break.
That all changed in the second half, though, as Utah failed to find a "spark," according to quarterback Bryson Barnes, and couldn't get into the end zone in the final 30 minutes.
Washington erased the halftime deficit and did just enough to stave off a Utah scare in a 35-28 win to move the team to 10-0 on the year, the first 10-0 start for the Huskies since 1991.
Utah (7-3, 4-3 Pac-12) had its chances in the second half, including a blocked field goal with 1:38 left to play and a chance to equalize, but the visiting team couldn't maintain the first half momentum and came up short.
"They didn't make any wholesale changes, we just couldn't get in sync in that second half," Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We just couldn't get in a rhythm; it was completely different than the first half. In the first half, we were in a great rhythm, we were up and down the field and completing passes and making plays. We just weren't able to be as productive in the second half."
Washington took a 5-point lead in the third quarter on a 33-yard pass from Penix to receiver Rome Odunze in the end zone, but Utah still had a chance as the team matched the Huskies shot for shot all afternoon.
Looking to reclaim the lead late in the third quarter, Utah got down to Washington's 14-yard line before a holding call pushed the Utes back. On the next play, Barnes' pass was tipped and intercepted by Alphonzo Tuputala, and Tuputala escaped down the sideline for what looked to be a pick six.
Tuputala dropped the ball in celebration 2 yards short of the end zone, assuming he had just scored. Several Huskies players walked past the ball but never realized it was still live. Utah offensive lineman Michael Mokofisi, however, ran the length of the field and jumped on it to give the Utes the ball back on the 1-yard line.
It was a wild turn of events that left both sidelines and a sellout crowd of 70,976 stunned.
THERE GOES THAT MAN!! 💨
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 11, 2023
📺 @CFBONFOX#GoUtes | @sione_vakipic.twitter.com/mdNsOAKt93
Utah got the ball back on the 1-yard line, but running back Ja'Quinden Jackson was tackled in the end zone on the next play to give Washington a safety and a 7-point lead.
Suddenly, Washington had a little more room to breathe and the ball back to put the game away for good.
"It's still better than giving up a touchdown, but it took some of the wind out of our sails when that happened," Whittingham said.
Washington wasn't able to capitalize on the drive, however, and gave the ball back to Utah with just over 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Deep in their own territory, Utah managed a first down on a pass from Barnes to Devaughn Vele, but it was called back after a controversial offensive pass interference penalty went against the Utes. The penalty backed Utah up and was ultimately the end to a drive where the Utes were forced to punt.
"I'll just say the refs got their money's worth today. ... So whatever. I mean, I have really no comment on that," Whittingham said.
Neither team could find the end zone for the remainder of the game, but Washington had done enough to survive.
"Outstanding college football game," Whittingham said. "Proud of our guys, they played hard start to finish, played really well offensively in the first half, not so well in the second half. I think it was a case of not being as dominant up front in the second half and not getting our running game going as well in the second half. But give them credit, they made plays; they're a good football team."
At the halftime break, Barnes had thrown for 238 yards and two touchdowns, including a 65-yard toss to Vele to set up a 7-yard rushing touchdown by Jackson to give the Utes the go-ahead score before halftime. He finished with 267 yards on 17-of-30 passing.
Utah's defense held Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to 198 yards and one touchdown at the break, limiting as much as possible shots down field to his dynamic receivers. Still, Penix found Rome Odunze for a 34-yard over-the-shoulder pass in the end zone to keep the Huskies in contention.
Penix finished throwing for 332 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-42 passing in the win.
