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Utah Football: 3 takeaways from blowout win over Stanford

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 5, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) (left) celebrates with offensive lineman Paul Maile (54) during the second quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) (left) celebrates with offensive lineman Paul Maile (54) during the second quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 5, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) runs with the ball during the first quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) runs with the ball during the first quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

2. This backfield is special

I knew Utah had one of the better backfields in college football before Friday’s game, but I was interested in seeing how it would fare on the road against Stanford. Honestly, I didn’t know the Utes’ backfield was this special.

Tavion Thomas had yet another big game, rushing for over 150 yards for a second straight week. He finished with 177 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries. He’s starting to look like one of the best backs in the Pac-12 and he has 337 yards and eight touchdowns on 44 carries over the past two games. That’s an incredible feat.

But Thomas isn’t the only star in the backfield for Utah. In fact, the Utes are led by Thomas obviously, but they also have Oklahoma transfer TJ Pledger and freshman Micah Bernard. Both of these guys added 100-plus yards on the ground on Friday night.

Pledger had just four carries but he turned them into 107 yards and a touchdown and Bernard had 110 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Both are now approaching 400 rushing yards on the year.

LSU transfer Chris Curry adds some depth, but the three-headed monster that leads the way is special. This run game is very tough to stop or even slow down.

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