Utah football: 3 takeaways from huge upset of USC in Pac-12 title game

Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Ja'Quinden Jackson (3) scores a touchdown against the Southern California Trojans during the first half of the PAC-12 Football Championship at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham is introduced before the game against the Southern California Trojans in the PAC-12 Football Championship at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Kyle Whittingham’s program is here to stay

Many people thought that Utah’s Pac-12 title and Rose Bowl appearance last year was a fluke. It would have made sense because the Utes had been good for a while but they hadn’t quite been conference champion good.

That has changed. No one is overlooking Utah any more.

I’ll admit, heading into Friday’s Pac-12 title game, I expected USC to roll. When the score was 17-3, I felt like a genius. And then Utah did what it does best under Kyle Whittingham: it proved me, a doubter, wrong.

The Utes have been flying under the radar all season long after a loss to Florida in the opener and all they’ve done is snuck up and captured a second straight Pac-12 title.

This is no longer a second-tier Pac-12 football program. Utah is a perennial winner and Whittingham’s teams are here to stay.

Utah will be in contention every year.

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