Tavion Thomas, Utah Football News: Draft Scout Player News

11/21/21 - RB Tavion Thomas, rJr/2023, Utah

Utah ended Oregon's College Football Playoff hopes in dominant fashion. The Ducks' 38-7 loss Saturday night also ended any chance the Pac-12 champion will claim one of the bids in the four-team playoff. Neither Oregon nor Utah will finish high enough in the College Football Playoff rankings to earn a bid. It means that the Pac-12 will not send its champion to the playoff for a fourth consecutive season. 'It hurts because there were a lot of expectations,' Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown said. "The potential was there, and we didn't maximize. We didn't grab the opportunity that was right in front of us." The No. 4 Ducks never really had a chance against the Utes after no. 24 Utah scored 14 points in the final 27 seconds before halftime to take a four-touchdown lead.

Britain Covey returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half. "It really was a tough situation for them coming out and being down 28-0," Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said. "That was really the biggest portion of the game and the thing that really give us a ton of momentum." Tavion Thomas ran for 94 yards and three touchdowns to help the Utes (8-3, 7-1 Pac-12, No. 23 CFP) wrap up a share of the Pac-12 South title and a spot in the conference championship game. Utah has won four in a row. Thomas has run for a Utah-record 17 touchdowns this season. The previous mark was 15, shared by Zack Moss and John White IV. Cameron Rising threw for 178 yards. His top target, Brant Kuithe, piled up 118 yards on five catches for just the second 100-yard game of his career. Covey had 191 all-purpose yards. Utah converted 11 of 14 third downs and finished with 386 total yards. - Utah/AP College Football

rJr/2023