Utah Utes 26, Indiana Hoosiers 24
Here are the top-graded players and biggest takeaways from Utah’s 26-24 win over Indiana in the Foster Farms Bowl.
Utah Utes
Quarterback grade: Troy Williams, 53.3
Williams struggles under pressure
Utah QB Troy Williams was not asked to do much in the passing game, as the Utes relied on their rushing attack to produce yards on offense. Williams finished just 3-of-9 for 52 yards and an interception on passes thrown 10-plus yards in the air, and all three completions were outside of the right numbers. Williams was ineffective when pressured, completing 4-of-10 passes for 48 yards and an interception, and taking six sacks.
Top offensive grades:
WR Demari Simpkins, 71.9
RT Sam Tevi, 71.1
WR Tim Patrick, 67.4
HB Joe Williams, 65.8
WR Siaosi Wilson, 63.3
Joe Williams has huge game despite poor run blocking
Despite an offensive line that saw just one player earn an above-average run-blocking grade, Utah HB Joe Williams totaled 219 rushing yards at more than 8 yards per carry. Williams forced a ridiculous 14 missed tackles, and 179 of his rushing yards came after contact. Williams also added a 56-yard reception for 275 yards of total offense in the game. His overall grade would have been higher were it not for a lost fumble in the fourth quarter and a pair of dropped passes.
Top defensive grades:
DE Hunter Dimick, 91.6
DT Pasoni Tasini, 85.6
S Chase Hansen, 85.1
DE Pita Taumoepenu, 83.3
CB Brian Allen, 77.4
Dimick is unblockable in his final college game
Utes DE Hunter Dimick has been one of the most dominant edge rushers in the country this season, and led Utah with a 93.0 pass-rushing grade in this game after recording a hit, six hurries and a batted pass. Dimick trails only Kansas State DE Jordan Willis in overall grade among Power-5 edge defenders this season, and leads that group with 905 snaps played. Dimick was the only Utah defender to play all 81 snaps in the game. OLB Pita Taumoepenu also had a huge game as a pass rusher, finishing with 2 sacks, a hit and 4 hurries, and DT Pasoni Tasini added 2 hits and 4 hurries while also earning a team-best 83.7 run defense grade.
Indiana Hoosiers
Quarterback grade: Richard Lagow, 57.9
Lagow is ineffective against the blitz
Utah sent blitz pressure at Indiana QB Richard Lagow and while they did not record a sack on those plays, Lagow was just 3-of-12 for 66 yards and an interception. Nearly all of Lagow’s passing production came in the middle of the field, as he finished 3-of-12 for 36 yards and an interception on passes thrown outside the numbers. Indiana’s receivers had a tough time hanging onto the ball throughout the game, combining for 4 dropped passes.
Top offensive grades:
LG Wes Martin, 75.8
WR Nick Westbrook, 73.6
WR Mitchell Paige, 69.5
QB Richard Lagow, 57.9
WR Ricky Jones, 53.8
Hoosiers overmatched in pass protection
Indiana’s offensive line could not match up to a talented Utah front-seven in pass protection, consistently struggling to give Lagow a clean pocket to work from. RG Dan Feeney (27.2 pass blocking grade, 4 hurries allowed) and RT Simon Stepaniak (25.7 pass-blocking grade, 4 hurries and 1 sack allowed) had trouble with Hunter Dimick for all four quarters. LT Coy Cronk was not much better, allowing 2 sacks, 3 hurries and earning a 43.7 run-blocking grade.
Top defensive grades:
LB Tegray Scales, 88.1
DT Nate Hoff, 85.0
DT Patrick Dougherty, 81.8
CB Richard Fant, 79.5
DT Ralph Green, 79.3
Indiana grades well despite huge game for Williams
The Hoosiers’ defense earned an excellent team run-defense grade, despite a strong individual performance from Utah HB Joe Williams. Indiana defenders consistently defeated blocks, but could not finish plays (17 missed tackles). LB Tegray Scales recorded 2 sacks and a hurry on just 8 pass rushes, and also finished with 5 run stops on his way to a team-best 86.9 run-defense grade. DT Nate Hoff had 3 run stops in addition to 2 hits and 3 hurries, and all five of Indiana’s interior linemen earned above average run defense grades. The Hoosiers were not as strong against the run on the edges or in the secondary however, as Williams totaled 84 yards and 6 broken tackles on just nine runs outside of the tight end.
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