Slow start, injuries doom Utes in loss to Colorado

Trailing 10-0 at the break and still without a single first down, Utah opened the second half with an 11-play, 68-yard scoring drive. Despite losing Brenner and White along the way, the Utes converted on third down twice and eventually crossed the goal line on a 3-yard run by Vakapuna.

Colorado responded to the challenge of having its lead cut to 10-7 by scoring a touchdown on its first drive of the half. A 1-yard toss from Hansen to Evan Harrington capped another sustained series by the Buffaloes, who covered 82 yards on 11 plays.

Utah quickly retaliated, though, answering with a 6-yard scoring strike from quarterback Jon Hays to fullback Shawn Asiata less than four minutes later.

It wound up capping all scoring in the first meeting between the teams since 1962.

"Our defense played great. Utah had only two drives that hurt us," said Colorado coach Jon Embree, who completed his first season at the helm of the Buffaloes with a 3-10 (2-7 in Pac-12 play) record. "We did a good job bringing pressure and containing, finally, this week."

Even with a bowl bid assured, Utah left the field hurting. Petersen had his hands on his face and shed a couple of tears during the traditional signing of the school fight song at game's end. Last Saturday, the junior nailed the game-winner in overtime on a snowy field at Washington State.

"He's been fairly steady all season long. He's one of the top kickers in the Pac-12 and it was a blessing to us to find him and have him perform like he did throughout the course of most of the season," Whittingham said. "... He would be the first to admit or tell you that tonight he's disappointed with his performance, but he's been a big positive for us in a lot of ball games."

Utah will learn its bowl destination on Sunday, Dec. 4. A team meeting is scheduled for Monday.

"It was a rough loss," said senior linebacker Chaz Walker. "But we'll bounce back, get ready for this bowl game and get our bowl win streak back on track."

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UCLA wins South Division

Utah's 17-14 loss to Colorado Friday proved to be good news for the UCLA Bruins. Regardless of what happens in Friday's late game between Arizona State and California, as well as Saturday's game between UCLA and USC, they'll represent the South Division in next Friday's inaugural Pac-12 Championship at North Division champion Oregon or Stanford.

The Bruins advance with a head-to-head win over ASU on Nov. 5 and because USC is ineligible to participate because of NCAA sanctions.UCLA wins South Division

Utah's 17-14 loss to Colorado Friday proved to be good news for the UCLA Bruins. Regardless of what happens in Friday's late game between Arizona State and California, as well as Saturday's game between UCLA and USC, they'll represent the South Division in next Friday's inaugural Pac-12 Championship at North Division champion Oregon or Stanford.

The Bruins advance with a head-to-head win over ASU on Nov. 5 and because USC is ineligible to participate because of NCAA sanctions.