Cameron Rising
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates winning the College Football Playoff Championship game against Alabama, getting a hoist from outside linebacker Bolan Smith, early Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Indianapolis. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: Final rankings and future prospects

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 11, 2022 12:11 PM EST

Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, left, catches a touchdown next to Utah cornerback Malone Mataele during the second half in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
No. 7 Ohio State beats No. 10 Utah 48-45 in wild Rose Bowl

By Greg Beacham Jan. 01, 2022 09:16 PM EST

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud plays against Oregon during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Utah reaches pinnacle, Ohio State returns to it in Rose Bowl

By Greg Beacham Dec. 31, 2021 02:01 PM EST

FILE - Utah players remove their helmets and point skyward to honor Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe during the second half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Salt Lake City. University of Utah retired the number 22 in honor of the deaths of Jordan and Lowe. At some point near the start of the fourth quarter of the 108th Rose Bowl on Saturday, the football fans in Arroyo Seco will rise together in memory of Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe. Instead of joining in a moment of silence, Utah and Ohio State fans alike will cheer, stomp, clap and scream their hearts out. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Utes want world to get loud for Jordan, Lowe at Rose Bowl

By Greg Beacham Dec. 31, 2021 02:48 AM EST

FILE - Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson rushes in on Maryland during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Maryland and Michigan, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in College Park, Md.. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Hutchinson, Milton, Weaver honored for college comebacks

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 21, 2021 01:37 PM EST

Southern California tailback Darwin Barlow (22) fumbles the ball as he's hit by California safety Elijah Hicks (3) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Berkeley, Calif. California's Trey Paster picked up the ball and returned it for a touchdown. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Utah's Whittingham unanimous AP Pac-12 Coach of the Year

By Anne M. Peterson Dec. 10, 2021 12:43 PM EST

FILE - Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson rushers against Maryland during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in College Park, Md. Hutchinson was selected to The Associated Press All-Big Ten team in results released Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Hutchinson leads Mayo Clinic Comeback Player semifinalists

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 09, 2021 10:22 AM EST

Utah running back Tavion Thomas (9) is tackled by Colorado safety Mark Perry (5), defensive end Mustafa Johnson (34) and linebacker Devin Grant (44) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Rising throws 3 TDs and No. 16 Utah beats Colorado 28-13

By Matthew Coles Nov. 26, 2021 07:57 PM EST

Colorado head coach Karl Dorrell, left, and Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham talk before an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Colorado at Utah 11/26/2021

Nov. 26, 2021 03:57 PM EST

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) gestures to his bench during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oregon Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Alex Goodlett)
Explosive offense has No. 16 Utah atop Pac-12 South again

By John Coon Nov. 25, 2021 01:14 PM EST

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham gets dowsed with water from a cooler as Utah defeated Oregon in an NCAA college football game at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Scott G Winterton/The Deseret News via AP)
No. 24 Utah routs No. 4 Oregon, ending Ducks' CFP hopes

By John Coon Nov. 20, 2021 11:16 PM EST

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) looks on before an NCAA college football game against Oregon, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Alex Goodlett)
Oregon at Utah 11/20/2021

Nov. 20, 2021 07:39 PM EST

Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown (13) walks off the field after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
Division titles at stake when No. 24 Utah hosts No. 4 Oregon

By The Associated Press Nov. 18, 2021 05:01 PM EST

Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) runs down the sideline on a long pass reception against New Mexico State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: Strange time for Bama to pass Cincy

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 15, 2021 02:31 AM EST

Arizona quarterback Will Plummer (15) runs for a touchdown against Utah in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Rising throws 2 TDs, Utah pushes past Arizona 38-29

By David Brandt Nov. 13, 2021 05:36 PM EST

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Utah at Arizona 11/13/2021

Nov. 13, 2021 01:47 PM EST

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising hands off to running back TJ Pledger (5) during the second quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against Stanford, Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Stanford, Calif. Pledger ran 96 yards for a touchdown. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Thomas' 4 TD runs lead Utah past Stanford 52-7

By Josh Dubow Nov. 06, 2021 01:51 AM EDT

Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee (18) walks with the aid of a crutch before the team's NCAA college football game against Utah, Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Utah at Stanford 11/5/2021

Nov. 05, 2021 11:17 PM EDT

UCLA coach Chip Kelly, left, and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham laugh before an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
UCLA at Utah 10/30/2021

Oct. 30, 2021 10:07 PM EDT

Utah running back Micah Bernard (2) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Oregon State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Corvallis, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Musgrave, Baylor help Oregon State overcome Utah 42-34

By Steve Gress Oct. 23, 2021 11:12 PM EDT