SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Just before the ball dropped on the New Year, the Utah Utes quite literally dropped the ball in the Holiday Bowl. The Utes committed six turnovers in the 31-20 loss in which they also gave up 28 straight points in the third after leading 20-3 at halftime.

Utah quarterback Jason Shelley put it simply.

“We just lacked ball security in the third quarter,” said Shelley. “We had way too many turnovers. Pretty much cost us the game.”

Fans React

After the game ended, many Ute fans took to social to express their disappointment in the Holiday Bowl’s outcome.

I posted a lot this past week about Northwestern being overrated, and the more I look at their season systems and the Holiday Bowl stats I stand by that position. To repeat what we’ve all been saying for days, that was a bad loss by Utah.

— Guy Incognito (@StaircaseWhitt) January 2, 2019

Don’t like playing the could of, would of & should of game!
But, if Utah had the their 4 best player’s healthy and active they would have won the Holiday Bowl easy.

— Joe Winter (@wilsonjet77) January 2, 2019

#Allstate should use Utah’s performance in the third quarter of the #HolidayBowl as a #MAYHEM commercial and donate the proceeds to the Crimson Club for scholarships.

— Bryan Pett (@pettbryan) January 1, 2019

Utah fans talked for weeks about how great going to the #HolidayBowl would be.

Reality:

Spent money to travel out of state, sit in the rain for 4 hours, and watch their team blow a 20-3 halftime lead.#HappyNewYear indeed. 🍾🍾🍾#Utes #BYU #1IsComing

— Jason Ludlow (@JasonMLudlow) January 1, 2019

Depth is one thing, leadership is another. Utah has depth now, needs leadership. #utes #HolidayBowl

— Daniel Royer (@danielroyer) January 1, 2019