The play that redefined Utah cornerback Julian Blackmon’s season would have become a bigger story if his 27-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter fully had launched his team’s comeback from 20 points behind against BYU.
The season that Utah hopes will end in the Rose Bowl took an unexpected turn in an eventual 35-27 victory Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium. In the end, the nonconference game served as a snapshot of Utah’s Pac-12 schedule. BYU’s 20-0 halftime lead re-enacted the Utes' 0-2 start in conference play. Later, the Utes' 28-0 surge in four offensive possessions framed their November rally behind fill-in quarterback Jason Shelley to win the Pac-12 South title.