Live Blog: The No. 14 Utes defeated the Florida Gators 24-11 on Thursday night.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Bryson Barnes (16) scores a touchdown as the Utah Utes host the Florida Gators, NCAA Football, on Thursday, August 31, 2023, in Salt Lake City .
| August 31, 2023, 11:36 p.m
| Updated September 1, 2023 at 4:47 am
Bryson Barnes was already something of a football folk hero in Utah.
If he keeps this up, he’ll be bigger.
The former walk-on, who started in place of senior Cam Rising, didn’t bother playing it safe on his first play from scrimmage. The Milford High star went deep to Money Parks and scored a 70-yard touchdown to give the Utes an early 7-0 lead at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Barnes is possibly the Utes’ least known quarterback. But as our columnist Andy Larsen pointed out this week, he’s good with a deep ball.
If you’re unfamiliar with Barnes’ story, check out this profile before last year’s Rose Bowl.
Final: Utah 24, Florida 11
Kyle Whittingham and the Utes didn’t have a starting QB.
But they got their revenge.
The Utes defeated the Florida Gators, the first SEC opponent to ever visit Rice-Eccles Stadium, 24-11.
Quarterback Cam Rising didn’t fit, but backups Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson shared duties to lead the Utes to victory.
“This team has a lot of courage,” Whittingham said. “Next man up mentality.” I couldn’t be prouder of these guys. Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson did what we needed them to do. In the end it wasn’t pretty; We somehow let them back in. But we achieved victory. On to the next one.”
Gators cross the goal line
Florida found the end zone in the fourth quarter. Graham Mertz added a 19-yard score to Caleb Douglas, capping a 13-play drive that lasted 6:54.
After a two-point conversion, the score is 24:11 with 9:22 minutes left to play.
Errors in Florida are increasing
At first, the Utes held the Gators deep.
Kirk Herbstreit
“This is a PSA for all punt returners on college football’s opening weekend. Do not do that. This is a newbie being a newbie.” https://t.co/feXVBA5WhO
– Awful Announcement (@awfulanncreasing) September 1, 2023
Then Utah’s safety Sione Vaki executes the tip drill perfectly.
And finally it’s Bryson Barnes’ turn to show off his wheels.
At the start of the third quarter the score is 24:3.
Halftime: Utah 17, Florida 3
A 51-yard field goal by Cole Becker gave the Utes three more points in the second quarter. But Utah may lament its missed opportunity: a trick play in which wide receiver Devaughn Vele brought down Micah Bernard just down the sideline.
Either way, the Utes have a lead at halftime.
In his TV interview, head coach Kyle Whittingham expressed his joy so far with his backup quarterbacks.
“Both do a good job and take care of football. Nate is doing exactly what we hoped he would with the running game. He probably needs to get more involved with it.”
On that opening touchdown: “We’ve opened pretty conservatively the last few years, so we thought we should change it up this year.”
A bit of bad news: Whittingham said it was “doubtful” whether Karene Reid would be able to return in the second half.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes running back Micah Bernard (2) congratulates Utah Utes quarterback Nate Johnson (13) after scoring a touchdown in the football game between the Utah Utes and the Florida Gators at Rice-Eccles Stadium Thursday, August 31, 2023.
Nate breaks one
Nate Johnson was promised.
And Nate Johnson delivered.
The redshirt freshman quarterback breaks off a 27-yard run for the Utes’ second touchdown of the game. It’s a result Utah can thank the Gators for: They were warned for having two No. 3 players on the field during a punt, giving the Utes a first down.
Credit the MUST
The Gators have already had false starts and kill drives twice. Both times they were at the south end of the stadium.
The Utes managed to keep Graham Mertz just short of the line on third down, and then the MUST did its best to force a false start.
To top it off, the Gators pushed the field goal wide right.
It’s still 7-3.
Q1: Utah 7, Florida 3
A sack by Jonah Elliss forced the Gators to settle for a field goal in the first quarter. But Florida threatens again towards the end of the quarter. Florida QB Graham Mertz appears to be feeling more comfortable – especially with Utah’s star linebacker Karene Reid on the sidelines reportedly being evaluated for a head injury.
Bryson Barnes will start for Utah
For a while, it seemed like Cam Rising was in for the long haul for the Utes’ season opener. So far, it’s been reserves Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson who have been on the field warming up.
(Eric Walden | The Salt Lake Tribune) With Cam Rising still recovering from ACL surgery, backup quarterbacks Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson were prominent figures on the field at Rice-Eccles Stadium during Thursday night’s warmups.
Rising star and tight end Brant Kuithe, who has not yet been cleared for full practice, are both in street clothes at the stadium.
A big roar
The United States set up a seismograph station at Rice-Eccles Stadium this evening and so far it hasn’t disappointed.
Here’s how to watch Utah vs. Florida
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fans line up as the Utah Utes take on the Florida Gators, NCAA Football, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Salt Lake City.
Today’s game is on ESPN and will be streamed on WatchESPN.
However, if you’re looking for more information on this showdown between the Utes and Gators, you’ve come to the right place.