LAS VEGAS β Utahβs Kyle Whittingham doesnβt care what conversation heβs involved in when it comes to the chatter of todayβs top college football coaches.
But after his Utes dismantled College Football Playoff-hopeful USC 47-24 on Friday night in the Pac-12 championship game, it may be time to place his name alongside those considered todayβs greats.
βI donβt know why itβs not. Like, back-to-back Pac-12 championships, come on now, heβs been here too long for people not to be talking about him,β Utah running back JaβQuinden Jackson said. βOne of the best coaches that Iβve been around. Itβs time.β
Utah, which was playing in its fourth Pac-12 championship over the last five seasons, is bowl eligible for the 14th time under Whittingham, the longest-tenured coach in the Pac-12 and second longest in the FBS.
Utah tight end Thomas Yassmin holds up the trophy and celebrates with teammates after Utah defeated USC 47-24 in the Pac-12βs championship game.
βItβs an anomaly to be at a school as long as I have, that just doesnβt happen in this day and age,β Whittingham said. βIβm very grateful and blessed to have been at the University of Utah for as long as I have ... close to 30 years as an assistant coach and head coach. Most coaches in that time-frame have been at 10 or 12 different places, so I feel very fortunate.β
Whittingham said his focus has never been on him, but more so on keeping his job.
The only way to do so, he added, is by winning.
The Utes have finished with a winning season in 16 of Whittinghamβs 18 years as head coach, and have nine consecutive years of winning seasons since 2014.
βItβs all about relationships and building those relationships with the players and your coaching staff, and even coaches from other teams,β said Whittingham, who is 154-73 since taking over the program. βAgain, if you donβt win enough you wonβt be around long enough to build relationships. Iβve been fortunate in that regard. And I have no really no opinion on should I be in whatever conversation.β
Nevertheless, while the Utes were going to the Rose Bowl whether or not they won or lost Friday, it was their second win over the favored Trojans this season, a victory that sweetened the pot for Utah before heading to Pasadena.
As they did in the regular season matchup, in which it fell behind by 14 points thrice, Utah shook off a 17-3 deficit and outscored the Trojans 44-7 en route to its blowout victory to claim its second consecutive conference championship.
And with the Utes up by 10, and the Trojans driving to close the gap, senior R.J. Hubert intercepted Caleb Williamsβ pass to send a good portion of the announced sellout crowd of 61,195 into a frenzy.
Moments later, Jackson raced 53 yards for a touchdown to put the game out of reach, reigniting the crowd and further cementing Whittinghamβs legacy.
No. 12 Utah 47, No. 4 USC 24
Utah 3 14 7 23 β 47
USC 14 3 0 7 β 24
First Quarter
USC: Washington 2 pass from Ca.Williams (Lynch kick), 11:28.
UTAH: FG Redding 25, 6:10.
USC: R.Brown 3 pass from Ca.Williams (Lynch kick), 2:52.
Second Quarter
USC: FG Lynch 20, 12:08.
UTAH: Ja.Jackson 8 run (Redding kick), 3:55.
UTAH: Dixon 4 pass from Rising (Redding kick), :02.
Third Quarter
UTAH: M.Parks 57 pass from Rising (Redding kick), 10:33.
Fourth Quarter
UTAH:FG Redding 35, 14:56.
USC:Mar.Williams 12 pass from Ca.Williams (Lynch kick), 10:52.
UTAH:Yassmin 60 pass from Rising (Redding kick), 10:08.
UTAH:Ja.Jackson 53 run (kick failed), 5:29.
UTAH:Bernard 23 run (Redding kick), 1:52.
Attendance: 61,195.
TEAM STATS
UTAH USC
First downs 25 19
Total Net Yards 533 419
Rushes-yards 35-223 27-56
Passing 310 363
Punt Returns 0-0 0-0
Kickoff Returns 0-0 5-68
Interceptions Ret. 1-29 0-0
Comp-Att-Int 22-34-0 28-41-1
Sacked-Yards Lost 1-9 7-69
Punts 3-43.667 4-41.5
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1
Penalties-Yards 5-45 4-39
Time of Possession 29:47 30:02
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Utah: Jackson 13-105, Bernard 11-88, Rising 8-18, N.Johnson 1-7, Dixon 2-5. USC: Jones 15-35, Ca.Williams 12-21.
PASSING: Utah: Rising 22-34-0-310. USC: Ca.Williams 28-41-1-363.
RECEIVING: Utah: Dixon 6-55, Bernard 5-41, M.Parks 4-88, Kincaid 4-40, Yassmin 2-81, N.Johnson 1-5. USC: Washington 6-93, Addison 5-65, Jones 4-40, Mar.Williams 3-51, Rice 3-42, K.Ford 2-38, R.Brown 2-(minus 1), Hudson 1-17, McRee 1-15, Barlow 1-3.
MISSED FIELD GOALS: None.
