Utah Finishes The 2023 Season With As Much Quarterback Confusion As It Started With

Utah's 2023 season will be remembered for two major storylines. Having possibly had the most injuries imaginable throughout the year, and also a quarterbacking disaster.

Kyle Whittingham played the game that Cam Rising would be back for Week 1 against Florida all offseason long, only for Rising to never come back due to what was a much more severe injury than reported. There were even "hopes" that he'd return down the stretch, but in true quarterback and narrative mismanagement, Whittingham announced after Utah's biggest win of the season at USC, that Rising was not returning. 

This left them with Bryson Barnes, who while had some bright moments also struggled greatly at times. His worst showing? Saturday's bowl game against Northwestern, as the viral pig farming sensation laid an egg in what was his final game as a Ute before transferring. While you cannot entirely blame Barnes who likely wasn't as dialed in as needed due to the fact he is also trying to plan the next step of his life, Whittingham has caught a lot of heat for not playing Brandon Rose.

If that name sounds familiar, Rose was actually set to be the starter this season in place of the injured Rising, but was injured before the year and never played. Back on December 12, Whittingham expressed confidence in Rose, and even said he would play him in the bowl game.

“That time lost has still hindered him somewhat, but he ramped back up to where he's got a good feel for everything and is getting a good exposure to the game plan," said Whittingham earlier in the monht. 

Well, on Saturday we learned that in the eyes of Whittingham, Rose was not ready at all.