Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Vs. Utah: Facts & Figures
November 25, 2022 | Football, Neill Woelk
vs. No. 14 UTAH (8-3, 6-2 Pac-12)
KICKOFF:Â 2:10 p.m. (MT), Folsom Field (50,183)
TV, RADIO: The radio broadcast will be carried by KOA (850 AM, 94.1 FM) with Voice of the Buffs Mark Johnson and Gary Barnett in the booth. KOA's coverage begins at 5 p.m. with the pregame show. The Pac-12 Network will televise the game with Ted Robinson and Yogi Roth.
ON THE INTERNET: The game can be heard on the internet at CUBuffs.com and www.850koa.com in the Denver-Boulder metro area. Live statistics will also be available at CUBuffs.com.
THE COACHES: Colorado interim head coach Mike Sanford, previously CU's offensive coordinator, is 1-5 at the Colorado helm.
Kyle Whittingham is in his 18th year at Utah, where he has compiled a 152-73 record.
THE SERIES:Â The two teams have played 68 times in a series that began in 1903. Utah holds a 33-32-3 all-time lead, but the Buffs have a 16-14-1 edge in Boulder. The Utes have won the last five meetings, with Colorado's last win a 27-22 victory in Boulder in 2016.Â
WHAT'S AT STAKE:Â Colorado needs a win to avoid becoming only the second team in CU history to lose 11 games in a season. The Utes will enter the game still having a chance to earn a berth in the Pac-12 championship game. Along with a win Saturday, they would also need Washington to beat Washington State and Oregon State to beat Oregon on Saturday.
LAST OUTING: Colorado lost 54-7 last weekend at then-No. 15 Washington. Utah lost at Oregon last weekend, 20-17.
TEAM LEADERS: Deion Smith leads the Buffs in rushing with 390 yards and two touchdowns on 81 carries. Alex Fontenot is next with 304 yards and one touchdown on 58 carries.
J.T. Shrout is CU's leading passer with 1,220 yards, seven interceptions and eight touchdowns on 90-for-203 passing. Jordyn Tyson, who has missed the last two games and will not play Saturday (injury), has 22 catches for 470 yards and four scores. Montana Lemonious-Craig has 21 catches for 333 yards and three touchdowns, including a 69-yard scoring reception last week at Washington.
Defensively, linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo has a team-high 91 tackles, including 10 for loss. Safety Trevor Woods has 84 tackles, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
Utah is led offensively by quarterback Cameron Rising, who has thrown for 2,395 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Rising is also second on the team in rushing with 378 yards and six touchdowns, trailing only Tavion Thomas (687 yards, seven touchdowns).
Tight end Dalton Kincaid leads the team in receiving with 61 catches for 748 yards and seven scores while wide receiver Devaughn Vele has 49 catches, 588 yards and five touchdowns.
Defensively, the Utes have recorded 27 sacks and 22 takeaways (11 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries). Safety Cole Bishop leads the team in tackles with 66. Cornerback Clark Phillips has six interceptions and 11 different Utes have recorded at least one sack this year.
KEY MATCHUP: Colorado's edge rushers vs. Utah quarterback Rising. The Buffs have to get pressure on Rising while also keeping him contained in the pocket and not allowing him to make plays with his legs.
UP NEXT: The Buffs are scheduled to open the 2023 season at TCU on Sept. 2, followed by home games against Nebraska and Colorado State.
