Three Things Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham Said ahead of the Utes’ Trip to Oklahoma State

The Cowboys host the highest-ranked Big 12 team on Saturday in an early season game that has major Big 12 title implications.

Oklahoma State and Utah kick off at 3 p.m. Saturday in Boone Pickens Stadium. Utah coach Kyle Whittingham met with reporters on Monday to preview the game. Here are three things he said that stood out. You can see his full news conference below.

1. Gordon Is ‘Kind of a Bully’

Ollie Gordon hasn’t quite gotten off to the start anyone has expected this season, as OSU’s first three opponents have seemingly made it a point to not let the reigning Doak Walker winner beat them.

Gordon this Saturday will go up against one of the better run defenses in the Big 12, as the Utes through three games are allowing just 109 rushing yards a game — good for fifth-best in the conference. Gordon has eclipsed that total just once this season — the 126 yards he ran for against South Dakota State. But just because Gordon hasn’t broken free yet this season doesn’t mean Utah will take him lightly.

“We’re gonna have to be good tacklers,” Whittingham said. “He’s a guy that breaks a lot of tackles. He’s a big back — over 6 feet and over 220 pounds — and just wears you out. He’s kind of a bully back there. That’s his style. Very rarely is the first guy gonna stop his charge, but it’s gonna have to be a concerted effort by the whole front seven to gang tackle and wrap up. …

“He’s got all our respect and all our attention. He’s a guy that is one of the more premier backs in the country. I don’t know what more you can say.”

2. On Cameron Rising

It’s no secret that Cameron Rising doesn’t lack experience, but over the past 625 days, Rising has taken just 65 live snaps.

Rising, Utah’s seventh-year quarterback, missed all of the 2023 season with injury before injuring his throwing hand in the Utes’ second game this season that kept him out of Utah’s most recent outing against Utah State. Well, it looks as if Rising is set to make his return as the Utes head to Stillwater.

Rising was a four-star prospect in the 2018 recruiting class who committed to Oklahoma in 2017 before flipping his commitment and signing with Texas. He redshirted in his lone year with the Longhorns before reemerging in Salt Lake City. In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Rising combined to throw for 5,527 yards and 46 touchdowns to just 13 interceptions. In his 65 snaps this season, Rising has thrown for 346 yards, seven touchdowns and no INTs. All that is to say, a healthy Cameron Rising has been good for the Utes.

“What he needs to put on tape is just what he’s been doing for us, really, ever since he took over,” Whittingham said. “He’s a terrific quarterback. When he’s on his game, he’s typically in the top 10 in the nation in QBR, which again is the barometer that I personally feel is the most accurate and best way to access quarterback play. …

“What have we talked about as far as getting out of harm’s way, is just doing a better job of that. It goes against his grain. He’s a tough, competitive guy, as I’ve said dozens of times. It just is not natural for him to turn anything down, but he’s got to. He’s gotta be able to do that.”

3. Whittingham on Gundy

Whittingham and Mike Gundy have been compared to each other plenty over the years, but those comparisons have only further ratcheted up since Utah’s entry into the Big 12.

Both took over at their respective school ahead of the 2005 season, meaning they’re in year 20 at the same spot. That’s mostly unheard of nowadays. In those 20 years, Whittingham is 165-79. Gundy is 169-79. But their teams will meet for the first time on Saturday.

“Certainly have been aware of his success,” Whittingham said. “He’s done a terrific job. That’s ultimately the bottom line. If you’re not successful, you’re not gonna be at a job for very long. He’s done a good job of winning and being consistent and seems to be every year. Every year you know what you’re gonna get from them, and their guys play hard and they’re well-coached and their personnel is good.”