Utah vs. Oregon State score: No. 10 Utes lifeless without QB Cameron Rising in first loss of season

Though the Utes enjoyed a 4-0 start without Rising, offensive shortcomings and injuries proved too much

No. 19 Oregon State used a stout defensive effort to pull away from No. 10 Utah 21-7 in a win that keeps the Beavers firmly in the Pac-12 Championship Game hunt. Though the Utes enjoyed a 4-0 start to the season without star quarterback Cameron Rising, middling offensive outputs and mounting injuries created a dangerous conference road trip on a short week. 

That turned out to be true against an Oregon State team that won on both sides of the ball. Utah was held to a season-low 198 yards of total offense and allowed three sacks. It was the second consecutive week the Utes have struggled offensively, having previously posted 219 total yards of offense and a single offensive touchdown against UCLA in Week 4. 

EAZZZZZZZZZZZZY pic.twitter.com/XykCUuWfu7

— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) September 30, 2023

The Beavers nearly recorded their first shutout in a conference game since 1975, but Utah quarterback Nate Johnson connected with tight end Thomas Yassmin for a 41-yard touchdown with 5:05 remaining. That late score created just enough interest before a turnover on downs with under three minutes remaining allowed the Beavers to run out the clock. 

Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei finished 14 of 25 passing for 204 yards and a touchdown, which came on arguably the most impressive play of the evening: A 45-yard scamper by Silas Bolden on a pitch from DJU on a fourth-and-1 at the start of the fourth quarter. Bolden was the player of the game, finishing with 153 yards of total offense with two touchdowns.

Heckuva play call by Oregon State👏

pic.twitter.com/UQu3PUJAiW

— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 30, 2023

After starting in Rising's absence, Johnson was briefly benched in the second half for veteran backup Bryson Barnes but returned in the fourth quarter after Barnes suffered an injury on a roughing the passer penalty and did not return to the game. Coach Kyle Whittingham said after the game that Barnes was admitted to the hospital with an undisclosed injury. 

Oregon State travels to Cal in Week 6, while Utah has a bye week before facing the same Cal team in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Oct. 14.