Utah Football: 3 takeaways from disappointing loss to Texas

SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 31: Tyler Huntley #1 of the Utah Utes is forced to scramble under pressure by Joseph Ossai #46 of the Texas Longhorns in the third quarter during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome on December 31, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

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SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 31: Josh Nurse #14 of the Utah Utes breaks up a pass intended for Collin Johnson #9 of the Texas Longhorns in the endzone in the fourth quarter during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome on December 31, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

2. Defense struggled to end the year

A strength of Utah all season long had been its defense, but after surrendering 37 points to Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship, the Utes gave up 38 to Texas in the Alamo Bowl.

An offense that didn’t live up to the preseason hype all season long was able to move the ball up and down the field on the Utes as Sam Ehlinger had a solid game and Keaontay Ingram broke out for 100 yards on the ground. On the day, Utah allowed 438 yards and five touchdowns which was more than disappointing given the fact that the Utes pride themselves on defense.

If you’re Utah, you have to move forward into the 2020 season wondering what you could have done differently on defense to make sure you didn’t drop two straight games to end the season, squandering not only a New Year’s Six berth but also a playoff appearance.

Allowed 75 points in two games to end the season was just one fewer point (76) than they allowed during their nine-game winning streak combined after losing to USC in the opening month.

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