close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

Bernard runs for 182 yards and No. 12 Utah wins Big 12 debut, beats No. 14 Oklahoma State 22-19
news

Bernard runs for 182 yards and No. 12 Utah wins Big 12 debut, beats No. 14 Oklahoma State 22-19

Micah Bernard rushed for a career-high 182 yards and No. 12 Utah held on for a fourth-quarter comeback to beat No. 14 Oklahoma State 22-19 on Saturday in the Utes’ first Big 12 game after leaving the Pac-12.

Brant Kuithe scored two touchdowns and Cole Becker shot three field goals for Utah (4-0, 1-0).

Freshman Isaac Wilson threw for 207 yards and a touchdown and ran for 41 yards in place of injured Utes starter Cam Rising, who warmed up but did not play.

Oklahoma State’s Alan Bowman, who had been benched after an ineffective first half, returned midway through the fourth quarter and threw for two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to help Oklahoma State (3-1, 0-1) cut Utah’s lead to three points.

Bowman, who was 8 of 22 for 89 yards in the first half, finished with 206 yards and two interceptions. Sophomore Garret Rangel played the third quarter and part of the fourth before Bowman returned with 9:26 remaining and the Cowboys trailing 16-3.

Utah held Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II to 42 yards rushing. Gordon won the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s best running back last season.

Utah gave the ball away three times in the first half but still led 10-3. Cowboys safety Trey Rucker intercepted Wilson twice. The Utes’ defense limited Oklahoma State to 119 yards and five first downs. Gordon carried the ball six times for 16 yards before halftime.

The teams traded field goals before Utah forced a punt, driving 64 yards on 11 plays for its only touchdown of the first half. Kuithe scored on a direct snap from the 1-yard line.

The takeaway meal

Utah: The Utes played without starters Connor O’Toole and Karene Reid on defense, but they still included Gordon and Bowman. Utah limited Oklahoma State to 285 yards and forced eight punts.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys came close to coming back, but were unable to stop Bernard and the Utes ran out of time.

Next:

Oklahoma State: Visits Kansas State on Saturday.