# 2018 Utah Utes football team

The 2018 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Utes were led by 14th-year head coach Kyle Whittingham and played their home games in Rice–Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT. They were members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference.
The Utes completed the regular season with a 6–3 record in conference play, winning the South Division for the first time since joining the Pac-12 Conference in 2011. In the Pac-12 Championship Game, the team lost to North Division champion Washington by a score of 10–3. They were invited to the Holiday Bowl to play Big Ten Conference runner-up Northwestern, where the Utes lost by a score of 31–20 to end the year at 9–5 overall.
Utah was led on offense by quarterback Tyler Huntley until he suffered a season-ending collarbone fracture in the game against Arizona State on November 3. Redshirt freshman Jason Shelley started for the rest of the season. Running back Zack Moss compiled 1,096 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Two members of the Utah offensive line earned first-team all-conference honors, Jordan Agasiva and Jackson Barton. Utah's defense featured four members of the first-team All-Pac-12: defensive linemen Bradlee Anae and Leki Fotu, linebacker Chase Hansen, and cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Hansen led the conference in tackles for loss with 22, and Anae tied for the conference lead in sacks with 8.

## Preseason
### Position key

| Back | B | Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB |
| Defensive end | DE | Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | End | E |
| Fullback | FB | Guard | G | Halfback | HB | Kicker | K |
| Kickoff returner | KR | Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB |
| Long snapper | LS | Punter | P | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB |
| Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |

### Recruits

The Utes signed a total of 20 recruits.
College recruiting information (2018) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Hunter Lotulelei OG | Salt Lake City, Utah | Highland High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 213 lb (97 kg) | Jun 17, 2016 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jack Tuttle QB | San Marcos, California | Mission Hills High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Dec 16, 2016 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Malone Mataele DB | Rancho Santa Margarita, California | Santa Margarita Catholic High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Apr 21, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Tevita Fotu TE | Herriman, Utah | Herriman High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | Oct 8, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Terrell Perriman WR | Miami, Florida | Miami Central High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 176 lb (80 kg) | Nov 3, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Braeden Daniels OL | Carrollton, Texas | Hebron High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | Dec 17, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jeremiah Jordan DE | Stone Mountain, Georgia | Mt. San Jacinto College | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | Dec 17, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Bryant Pirtle LB | Louisville, Kentucky | Pima Community College | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | Dec 20, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Paul Maile DT | Salt Lake City, Utah | East High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | Dec 23, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Andrew Mataafa LB | San Diego, California | San Diego High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Dec 29, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Vonte Davis CB | Rosenberg, Texas | Blinn College | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jan 14, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Blake Kuithe DE | Katy, Texas | Cinco Ranch High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | Jan 14, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Brant Kuithe WR | Katy, Texas | Cinco Ranch High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 212 lb (96 kg) | Jan 14, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jackson Cravens DT | Provo, Utah | Timpview High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | Feb 3, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Thomas Yassmin TE | New South Wales, Australia | The Scots College | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | Feb 6, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Devin Brumfield RB | Covington, Louisiana | Covington High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 219 lb (99 kg) | Feb 7, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Solomon Enis WR | Phoenix, Arizona | North Canyon High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Feb 7, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Simi Moala DE | Hawthorne, California | Cathedral High School | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | Feb 7, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Mika Tafua DE | Maui, Hawaii | Kamehameha Schools | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Feb 7, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Tareke Lewis CB | Palatka, Florida | Riverside City College | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Feb 7, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Utah Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 19, 2018. "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 19, 2018. |||||||

### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
| Award | Player | Position | Year |
| Lott Trophy | Chase Hansen | LB | SR |
| Rimington Trophy | Lo Falemaka | C | SR |
| Chuck Bednarik Award | Julian Blackmon | CB | JR |
| Chuck Bednarik Award | Bradlee Anae | DE | JR |
| Maxwell Award | Zack Moss | RB | JR |
| Doak Walker Award | Zack Moss | RB | JR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Julian Blackmon | CB | JR |
| Outland Trophy | Lo Falemaka | C | SR |
| Lou Groza Award | Matt Gay | K | SR |
| Ray Guy Award | Mitch Wishnowsky | P | SR |
| Wuerffel Trophy | Chase Hansen | DB | SR |
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award | Tyler Huntley | QB | JR |

### Pac-12 Media Days

The 2018 Pac-12 media days are set for July 25, 2018 in Hollywood, California. Kyle Whittingham (HC), Chase Hanson (LB) & Lo Falemaka (OL) at Pac-12 Media Days. The Pac-12 media poll was released with the Utes predicted to finish in second place at Pac-12 South division.
Media poll (South) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | USC | 225 (22) |
| 2 | Utah | 209 (14) |
| 3 | Arizona | 178 (3) |
| 4 | UCLA | 116 (2) |
| 5 | Colorado | 80 (1) |
| 6 | Arizona State | 72 |

## Schedule

Utah announced their 2018 football schedule on November 16, 2017. The Utes will play FCS Weber State and Northern Illinois and returning to the traditional last game of the year spot, Utah will play in-state rival BYU Cougars football in out-of-conference play. In Pac-12 conference play, the Utes will not play cross-divisional foes California and Oregon State.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 30 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 8 (FCS) Weber State* | | Rice–Eccles StadiumSalt Lake City, UT | P12N | W 41–10 | 45,988 |
| September 8 | 5:30 p.m. | at Northern Illinois* | | Huskie StadiumDeKalb, IL | ESPNews | W 17–6 | 16,762 |
| September 15 | 8:00 p.m. | No. 10 Washington | | Rice–Eccles StadiumSalt Lake City, UT | ESPN | L 7–21 | 47,445 |
| September 29 | 4:00 p.m. | at Washington State | | Martin StadiumPullman, WA | P12N | L 24–28 | 30,088 |
| October 6 | 8:30 p.m. | at No. 14 Stanford | | Stanford StadiumStanford, CA | ESPN | W 40–21 | 37,244 |
| October 12 | 8:00 p.m. | Arizona | | Rice–Eccles StadiumSalt Lake City, UT | ESPN | W 42–10 | 45,862 |
| October 20 | 6:00 p.m. | USC | | Rice–Eccles StadiumSalt Lake City, UT | P12N | W 41–28 | 46,405 |
| October 26 | 8:30 p.m. | at UCLA | No. 23 | Rose BowlPasadena, CA | ESPN | W 41–10 | 41,848 |
| November 3 | 2:00 p.m. | at Arizona State | No. 15 | Sun Devil StadiumTempe, AZ | P12N | L 20–38 | 46,445 |
| November 10 | 3:30 p.m. | Oregon | | Rice–Eccles StadiumSalt Lake City, UT | P12N | W 32–25 | 46,275 |
| November 17 | 11:30 a.m. | at Colorado | No. 19 | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO (Rumble in the Rockies) | P12N | W 30–7 | 39,360 |
| November 24 | 8:00 p.m. | BYU* | No. 17 | Rice–Eccles StadiumSalt Lake City, UT (Holy War/Beehive Boot) | FS1 | W 35–27 | 46,017 |
| November 30 | 6:00 p.m. | vs. No. 11 Washington | No. 17 | Levi's StadiumSanta Clara, CA (Pac-12 Championship Game) | FOX | L 3–10 | 35,134 |
| December 31 | 5:00 p.m. | vs. No. 22 Northwestern* | No. 17 | SDCCU StadiumSan Diego, CA (Holiday Bowl) | FS1 | L 20–31 | 47,007 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after October 30 released prior to gameAll times are in Mountain time ||||||||
Source:

## Game summaries
### Weber State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 8 (FCS) Wildcats | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Utes | 7 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 41 |

### At Northern Illinois

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Utes | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 17 |
| Huskies | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |

### Washington

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 10 Huskies | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Utes | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |

### At Washington State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Utes | 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
| Cougars | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |

### At Stanford

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Utes | 7 | 17 | 3 | 13 | 40 |
| No. 14 Cardinal | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |

### Arizona

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Utes | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 42 |

### USC

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Utes | 7 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 41 |

### At UCLA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 23 Utes | 3 | 14 | 21 | 3 | 41 |
| Bruins | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |

### At Arizona State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 Utes | 7 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Sun Devils | 14 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 38 |

### Oregon

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ducks | 0 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 25 |
| Utes | 10 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 32 |

### At Colorado

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 21 Utes | 0 | 7 | 17 | 6 | 30 |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |

### BYU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cougars | 13 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
| No. 18 Utes | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 | 35 |
The Utes scored 28 unanswered points and overcame a 27–7 deficit in the third quarter to defeat their in-state rival, the BYU Cougars, for the eighth consecutive time.

### Vs. Washington (Pac-12 Championship game)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 17 Utes | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 10 Huskies | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |

### Vs. Northwestern (Holiday Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 20 Utes | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Wildcats | 0 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 31 |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | RV | RV | 23 | 16 | RV | 21 | 18 | 17 | 20 | RV |
| Coaches | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | RV | RV | 24 | 16 | 24 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 19 | RV |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 15 | — | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | Not released |

## Players drafted into the NFL

The Utes had five players drafted in the 2019 NFL draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 2 | 47 | Marquise Blair | S | Seattle Seahawks |
| 3 | 88 | Cody Barton | LB | Seattle Seahawks |
| 4 | 110 | Mitch Wishnowsky | P | San Francisco 49ers |
| 5 | 145 | Matt Gay | K | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 7 | 240 | Jackson Barton | OT | Indianapolis Colts |