Utah Football Falls In 2023 Rose Bowl Game To Penn State
Jan 2, 2023, 6:32 PM | Updated: 6:58 pm
PASADENA, Calif. – The Utah Utes fell in the Rose Bowl Game for the second straight season after losing to the Penn State Nittany Lions.
The No. 8 Utes and No. 11 Nittany Lions played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on Monday, January 2.
Utah lost to Penn State, 35-21.
Tough result for the Utes in the 2023 @rosebowlgame. 🌹
FINAL
No. 11 @PennStateFball 35
No. 8 @Utah_Football 21📰: https://t.co/4mpWqrGRO5#GoUtes #RoseBowl pic.twitter.com/8PKnlWpoZr
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 3, 2023
Rose Bowl Game: No. 11 Penn State vs. No. 8 Utah
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In 2022, the Utes made their fourth Pac-12 championship in five years and secured a second Rose Bowl appearance in two years.
In what many are calling the last ‘traditional’ Rose Bowl game, future Rose Bowl games likely won’t take place on the New Year and won’t feature one Pac-12 and one Big Ten team. This is due to the upcoming 12-team College Football Playoff transition.
Heading into the Bowl game, both Penn State and Utah are boasting 10-win records. The Utes enter at 10-3 and Penn State enters at 10-2.
The Utes are missing star Tight End Brant Kuithe due to an early season leg injury. Clark Phillips is also out after declaring for the NFL draft. Dalton Kincaid, another rotational Tight End for Utah, will also miss the Rose Bowl with an injury.
100 years and one day ago, Penn State clashed with USC in the first-ever Rose Bowl. Penn State lost 14-3. They also lost to USC in Pasadena in 2008 and 2016. Penn State’s sole Rose Bowl victory came in 1994 against Oregon. Utah aims to give the Nittany Lions their first non-USC Rose Bowl loss.
First Half
Utah wins the toss. Defers to the second half. Here we go!#GoUtes #RoseBowl2023 pic.twitter.com/RSJJPffZ6n
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 2, 2023
First Quarter
Defense comes ready to play. Three and out for Penn State in their first possession. Karene Reid and Lander Barton with some big plays early on in this game. #GoUtes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 2, 2023
Penn State returns the three-and-out favor. #Utes will have to punt after their first possession. #GoUtes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 2, 2023
Singleton shook loose a little more this time, but Utah did a pretty good job of bending, but not breaking. Penn State punts again. Rising and the Utah offense up next.#GoUtes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 2, 2023
Dixon and Bernard take care of getting the next first down. Utah appears to be rolling. #GoUtes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 2, 2023
First turnover of the game is committed by Utah. Cam Rising throws the interception on a pass intended for Devaughn Vele. Penn State takes over at their own 16.#RoseBowl l #PennState l #Utes l @KSLSports
— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_KSL) January 2, 2023
Kalen King with the diving INT for Penn State at the Rose Bowl‼️
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/uiOywV4UE0
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2023
Clifford has been getting loose passing the ball this series. Has hit the center of the field a few times and found great success. Beauty to Johnson for 28 yards to set PSU up in Utah’s red zone.#Utes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 2, 2023
PENN STATE PUNCHES IT IN FOR THE FIRST TD IN PASADENA 😤 pic.twitter.com/y4o0IFCqAt
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2023
One quarter down, three to go—@PennStateFball gets on the scoreboard first. #RoseBowl | #WeAre | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/tZ6vDJcB1h
— Rose Bowl Game (@rosebowlgame) January 2, 2023
Second Quarter
Rising goes back to Vele and the pass falls incomplete, but Penn State gets hit with interference for a first down. #GoUtes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 2, 2023
Jackson is the ball carrier for the ball on 3rd and 2, Utes go for it on 4th and 1 with a Rising keeper. 1st down.#GoUtes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 2, 2023
Rising takes off for six yards. 2nd and 4 from the Penn State 27. Bernard follows it up with a 15-yard run to put the #Utes on the PSU 12. #GoUtes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 2, 2023
Confirmed TNT TD 🙌@TYassmin21 pic.twitter.com/VBTZUtTS4K
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) January 2, 2023
.@Utah_Football ties #RoseBowl in second quarter 🏈#GoUteshttps://t.co/cbzV4VJiai
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2023
TD TYAS!#GoUtes | #RoseBowl pic.twitter.com/jzcFyS1HGq
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) January 2, 2023
Looked like Utah had Clifford on 3rd and 8 but instead he rolled out and gained 38 off a pass. #Utes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 2, 2023
Penn State strikes again and regains the lead. Clifford completes a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tinsley.#GoUtes #WeAre #RoseBowl2023
PSU 14 | UTAH 7
4:47 Q2 pic.twitter.com/1kULytqvUh— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2023
Soooo, I was about to say one thing that I think has separated Utah and Penn State early has been lack of explosive plays on Utah’s part, but then Rising threw a 47-yard bomb to Vele.#GoUtes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 2, 2023
JA’QUINDEN BREAKING ANKLES AND TAKING NAMES!@leg3ndaryjaay | #GoUtes
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) January 2, 2023
SPIN ‘EM AND SCORE 🌹🌀 pic.twitter.com/SBJr5CCSUU
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2023
.@leg3ndaryjaay showing off his wheels. 💨 🌹 #GoUtes #RoseBowl https://t.co/APNVNBBbZR
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2023
Tafuna and K. Reid have both gotten home for sacks on Clifford this drive for Penn State. Tafuna’s was a one-yard loss, Reid’s a six-yard loss. #GoUtes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 2, 2023
HALFTIME
We have a ballgame here in Pasadena. Neither Utah nor Penn State are relenting. #GoUtes #WeAre #RoseBowl2023
PSU 14 | UTAH 14 pic.twitter.com/jPkaeZM4kd
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2023
3️⃣ total TDs in the second quarter. The rest of the game is gonna be a good one. Who you got?#RoseBowl | #WeAre | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/WaEoCClbbk
— Rose Bowl Game (@rosebowlgame) January 2, 2023
Second Half
Third Quarter
And we are back from the half. Utah will receive the ball making this a very big drive in the game since both sides are trading shots.#GoUtes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 3, 2023
That fake handoff was well done. Really opened up a lane for Rising to take off through and gain the first down. #GoUtes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 3, 2023
What started as a promising drive ends in a punt for the #Utes.
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 3, 2023
And Penn State’s Singleton breaks free for the 87-yard rushing TD — Utah wasn’t anywhere to be found.
Utah 14 | Penn State 21
3Q | 9:25— Josh Furlong (@JFurKSL) January 3, 2023
Rising keeps the ball and gets the first down but doesn’t get back up. Training staff out on the field. #Utes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 3, 2023
BREAKING: @Utah_Football QB Cam Rising exits the @rosebowlgame against Penn State due to injury. #GoUtes #RoseBowl https://t.co/FnEAeP0hsk
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 3, 2023
Rising is up and walking off the field, team is running up to him. Training staff is taking him to the sideline. Bryson Barnes time. #Utes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 3, 2023
Rising is out of the tent and heading to the locker room. #Utes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 3, 2023
Before exiting the game in the third quarter, @Utah_Football QB Cam Rising was 8/21 passing for 95 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Rising also had nine carries for 56 yards.
📰: https://t.co/R4SR0lOD0z #GoUtes #RoseBowl @BodkinKSLsports pic.twitter.com/g1hK1QVt8H
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 3, 2023
While this is happening 👇🏽 Barnes throws an interception. Picked off by Ji’Ayir Brown.#RoseBowl l #Utes https://t.co/WmBR9fMFdm
— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_KSL) January 3, 2023
Utah defense holds strong, keeps PSU from getting a score off of the interception.#GoUtes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 3, 2023
1️⃣5️⃣ more minutes. #GoUtes #RoseBowl pic.twitter.com/4vs7wc6KjJ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 3, 2023
Fourth Quarter
Penn State seems to be pulling away from the #Utes now. Clifford completes an 88-yard pass to Lambert-Smith to go up two scores. #GoUtes #WeAre #RoseBowl2023
PSU 28 | UTAH 14
14:30 Q4 pic.twitter.com/m9g7gfFS3I— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 3, 2023
Penn State becomes 1st team in @rosebowlgame history w/multiple 80+ yard touchdowns: KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s 88-yard TD reception & Nate Singleton’s 87-yard TD run
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) January 3, 2023
It doesn’t matter who is playing quarterback if the Utah secondary is going to play this badly. One blown assignment after another in this game.
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) January 3, 2023
Penn State in again. Just not Utah’s day today. #Utes #RoseBowl2023
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 3, 2023
Penn State scores again and now leads by three scores. Unfortunately for Utah, not much has gone their way today. Loosing Rising was a particularly tough and costly blow. #GoUtes #WeAre #RoseBowl2023
PSU 35 | UTAH 14
10:36 Q4— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 3, 2023
With 6:14 left in the Rose Bowl, Sean Clifford is 16-of-22 for 279 yards, two TDs and 0 INTs.
His 209.3 passer rating would be his highest since 9/25/21 vs. Villanova.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 3, 2023
“The Utes will leave here disappointed but make some folks happy.”
“Now it’s officially over, right?” pic.twitter.com/bvjlipghxH
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 3, 2023
Tough result for the Utes in the 2023 @rosebowlgame. 🌹
FINAL
No. 11 @PennStateFball 35
No. 8 @Utah_Football 21📰: https://t.co/4mpWqrGRO5#GoUtes #RoseBowl pic.twitter.com/8PKnlWpoZr
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 3, 2023
Game Stats
Cameron Rising put up 95 yards on 8/21 passing with one touchdown and one interception. Bryson Barnes recorded 112 yards on 10/19 and also had one touchdown and one interception.
Ja’Quinden Jackson had 13 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown. Devaughn Vele had 5 catches for 100 yards. Jaylen Dixon had 6 catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Penn State QB Sean Clifford passed for 279 yards and two touchdowns on 16/21 attempts.
Nick Singleton had 7 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns. KeAndre Lambert-Smith caught 3 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports
