Utah Football: 3 takeaways from blowout win over UCLA

2. Penalties made little impact for two teams used to seeing yellow flags

Penalties did help to take points off the scoreboard. A false start penalty on the final play of the game moved a field-goal attempt from 47 yards to 52 yards. The distance proved too much for veteran UCLA kicker JJ Molson, whose attempt fell a yard or two short. Instead of going into the locker room down 17-10, the Bruins started the second half down by two scores.

UCLA entered the locker room with five penalties for 40 yards. The Bruins didn’t take a single penalty in the second half, but better discipline had little impact on UCLA’s fortunes. Chip Kelly was forced to watch as his team did everything by the book as their two-game winning streak came to a bitter end.

By the end, both teams had taken five penalties. Utah lost 42 yards on their handful of flags, as things pretty much balanced out with the officiating. But the Bruins suffered the worst for the flags, as it prevented the chance to keep things close before the intermission.