Sports

Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham hoists the Pac-12 trophy after the Utes beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News In what’s …

Utah State celebrates after defeating San Diego State during an NCAA college football game for the Mountain West Conference Championship, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Carson, Calif. | John McCoy, AP The Aggies have been members of the MW conference …

Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) battles Texas Southern Tigers forward Yahuza Rasas (0) for position on a shot as BYU and Texas Southern play an NCAA basketball game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Nov. 24, …

Utah guard Rollie Worster (25) goes to the basket against Southern California guard Boogie Ellis, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo) | AP Runnin’ Utes …

Brigham Young Cougars guard Te’Jon Lucas (3) drives around Texas Southern Tigers guard PJ Henry (3) for a shot as BYU and Texas Southern play an NCAA basketball game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. …

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) | AP The NFL has built its brand around quarterbacks …

Utah State quarterback Logan Bonner throws a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. | Young Kwak, AP Bonner is now the Utah State record holder …

Utah Utes wide receiver Britain Covey (18) kisses the trophy after the Utes beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News It was …

Utah State coach Blake Anderson talks to his players during the first half of an NCAA college football game against New Mexico on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Albuquerque, N.M. The Aggies play San Diego State for the Mountain West …

Utah Utes fans cheer during the Pac-12 championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News LAS VEGAS — Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Raiders, became …

Utah Utes quarterback Cam Rising (7) and teammates celebrate after the Utes beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News LAS VEGAS — …

BYU celebrates after beating Santa Clara 3-2 in a penalty kick shootout during the NCAA women’s soccer tournament semifinals at Stevens Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. The Cougars advanced to the national championship game, where …

Utah Utes wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) and Utah Utes tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) celebrate after Kincaid scored on the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | …

Lehi’s Quincy Lewis and Bountiful’s Mike Maxwell are two of Utah’s most noted high school boys basketball coaches and have a long history of success. As they glanced at each other in pregame warmups Friday night, they had to realize …

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates a three pointer in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. The Jazz won 137-130. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News The Jazz beat Boston 137-30 on Friday night in a gritty …

Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) drives for a loose ball past Utah Valley Wolverines guard Justin Harmon (24) at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News How will the Cougars …

Chris Done takes a photo of Cori Davis as Utah fans congregate outside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas before the Utes face the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News …

Real Salt Lake forward Bobby Wood (7) celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Sporting Kansas City Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Kansas City, Kan. Real Salt Lake won …

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake looks on following their NCAA college football game against Idaho State Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Provo, Utah. Sitake has BYU in a good position, nationally ranked for the second straight season as the Cougars …

Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) talks during the Utah Jazz media media day at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021. Bogdanovic will be cheering for Real Salt Lake when RSL faces the Portland Timbers …

BYU women’s soccer players celebrate after beating South Carolina in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Provo, Utah. The Cougars now face Santa Clara in the national semifinals for the right to play in the national …

Utah fans hold their phone lights in honor of Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan, who both died in less than a year, at the beginning of the fourth quarter as Utah and Oregon play an NCAA football game at Rice-Eccles …

New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) watches a replay during the first half of an NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in New Orleans. Hill is feared to have …

Utah State Aggies quarterback Logan Bonner (1) throws in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Utah State (9-3) vs. No. 19 San Diego State (11-1) Kickoff: Saturday, 1 p.m. MDT Venue: Dignity Health Sports …

Utah State coach Blake Anderson, left, is doused by players Quazzel White (51) and Demytrick Ali’ifua before the end of an NCAA college football game against New Mexico on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Albuquerque, N.M. Both Utah State and …

China’s Peng Shuai serves to Japan’s Nao Hibino during their first round singles match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 21, 2020. Tennis officials have been worried about Peng’s safety. | Andy Brownbill, Associated Press …

Utah wide receiver Britain Covey (18) celebrates a touchdown with his teammates against Colorado in an NCAA football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. | Shafkat Anowar, Deseret News The No. 17 Utes …

Saint Mary’s guard Augustas Marciulionis (3) and forward Dan Fotu (42) celebrate after Utah State forward Justin Bean (34) was called for a foul in the final second of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Logan, …

Fremont’s Timea Gardiner (30) blocks the shot by Bingham’s Brianna Badonie in South Jordan on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News The last time the defending 6A state champion Fremont Silverwolves lost a game, it was …

St. Mary’s guard Logan Johnson, center, shoots as Utah State guard Brock Miller (22) and forward Justin Bean (34) defend in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Logan, Utah. | Eli Lucero, …

Utah Utes tight end Brant Kuithe celebrates a touchdown with offensive lineman Bamidele Olaseni in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. Kuithe and the Utes get another crack at a Pac-12 title when they face Oregon Friday night …

Virginia Cavalier coach Bronco Mendenhall walks onto the field prior to a game with Notre Dame in Charlottesville, Va., on Thursday Nov 13, 2021. Mendenhall is stepping down as coach. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News On Thursday afternoon, a …

Utah Utes quarterback Cam Rising (7) runs out of bounds with Oregon Ducks defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) defending on the play as Utah and Oregon play an NCAA football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, …

BYU women’s soccer coach Jennifer Rockwood is leading the Cougars into the College Cup — the Final Four — for the first time in her 27-year tenure at BYU. | Jaren Wilkey/BYU BYU has made the College Cup, the Final …

Virginia Cavaliers head coach Bronco Mendenhall meets his players as they walk off the field after falling to BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. BYU won 66-49. Mendenhall will reportedly resign as the Virginia …

BYU Basketball Coach Mark Pope frowns during loss at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Baxter, who was injured during the Cougars’ loss to UVU, was a big reason for BYU’s …

Utah center Branden Carlson grimaces after an injury during game against Southern California in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Carlson’s status for the Utes’ Pac-12 home opener against Cal on Sunday is unknown. | Alex Gallardo, Associated Press New …

Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd celebrates with this teammates after an interception against Washington State at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 in Salt Lake City. After a 1-2 start, the Utes flipped the script and will face Oregon Friday …

Members of the BYU women’s soccer team huddle after game against Missouri on Sept. 11, 2021 at South Field in Provo. The Cougars will face Santa Clara in the semifinals of the College Cup on Friday. | Ryan Campbell, BYU …

AP Utah center Branden Carlson is latest Ute to go down, suffering a right ankle injury and leaving the game when it was still a competitive contest LOS ANGELES — Craig Smith knew there would be nights like this when …