By Skip Coopersmith
GAME NOTES
https://utahutes.com/documents/2023/12/18/_13__vs._Northwestern.pdf
THE GAME
The University of Utah Football team is set to take on the Northwestern Wildcats in the 2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 23. The game will kick off at 4:30 p.m. PT/5:30 p.m. MT and will air on ABC.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can get behind the scenes views and live updates on social media and online at www.UtahUtes.com. The Utes are active on Twitter (@Utah_Football), Instagram (@UtahFootball), Threads (@UtahFootball), Facebook (search Utah Football) and TikTok (@Utah_Football).
GOING BOWLING
For the 17th time under head coach Kyle Whittingham, the Utes became bowl eligible this year. Utah is 17-8 all-time in bowl games with Whittingham holding an 11-5 record (.688) with his 11 wins tying for third among active FBS coaches and in the top-10 all-time. This will also be Utah’s sixth appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl, winning four of the five games.
1999 Utah 17, Fresno State 16
2001 Utah 10, USC 6
2010 Boise State 26, Utah 3
2014 Utah 45, Colorado State 10
2015 Utah 35, BYU 28
THE NUMBERS
• Head Coach Kyle Whittingham is set to coach in his 367th overall game at Utah and his 241st as head coach on Saturday.
• Through 12 regular season games, Utah held opponents to just 84.2 rushing yards per game.
• The Utes lead the FBS in time of possession this season (34:03).
• Utah and Northwestern are set to play each other for the fourth time in program history.
UTAH FOOTBALL: NEED TO KNOWS
• Through 12 games, Utah ranks eighth in the FBS in third down defense (28.9%), fifth in first downs defense (181), fourth in rushing defense (84.2) and 17th in total defense (308.6).
• Utah has averaged 199.8 rushing yards in the last six games and 186.2 overall, which ranks 26th in the FBS this season.
• This season, Utah has been averaging 359.8 yards of offense per game, including 397.5 in the last six.
• Utah has held seven of its opponents to under 20 points this season, ranking 21st in the FBS in scoring defense (19.8).
• The Utes have posted a winning record in nine straight seasons, dating back to 2014. Utah has finished with a winning season in 17 of Kyle Whittingham‘s 19 years as head coach (2023 included).
COURTESY UTAH ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
