KYLE WHITTINGHAM

The sun usually sets behind Arroyo Seco late in the third quarter of the Rose Bowl. The moment is often spectacular, with clouds turning pink and orange while the San Gabriel Mountains light up in dazzling reds and yellows amid the dying rays. The sun is also setting on an era of Rose Bowl history Monday when No. 7 Utah (10-3, No. 8 CFP) faces No. 9 Penn State (10-2, No. 11 CFP).

No. 4 USC and No. 11 Utah kick off Championship Weekend with the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Three years ago, Oregon ruined Utah's shot at the CFP with an upset in the Pac-12 title game. Now the Utes can do the same thing to No. 4 USC.

Cameron Rising threw for 415 yards, ran for three touchdowns and scampered up the middle for a go-ahead two-point conversion with 48 seconds left in No. 20 Utah’s 43-42 victory over No. 7 Southern California on Saturday night.

The defending national champions came into the season ranked No. 3 in the country and hardly overlooked behind No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Ohio State. The Bulldogs crushed No. 11 Oregon with stunning ease, unleashing a more dynamic offense and a defense that was just as salty as last season's wrecking crew. Stetson Bennett passed for 368 yards without playing a down in the fourth quarter.

Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell is the last of the talented Sewell brothers still in college and he's got high hopes for this season with the 11th-ranked Ducks, who play No. 3 Georgia on Saturday in Atlanta.

Michigan defensive back Dax Hill started in the Orange Bowl against third-ranked Georgia after his late arrival in Florida.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has been named The Associated Press Pac-12 Coach of the Year for 2021.

Utah will face Ohio State in the 108th edition of the Rose Bowl.

Devin Lloyd returned an interception for a touchdown, Cam Rising threw for another score and No. 14 Utah clinched the first Rose Bowl berth in school history with a 38-10 victory over No. 10 Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game.

Cameron Rising threw for three touchdowns and Tavion Thomas ran for 142 yards and another score to lift No. 16 Utah to a 28-13 win over Colorado.

Utah sophomore cornerback Aaron Lowe has died in a shooting at house party less than a year after teammate Ty Jordan was killed in an accidental shooting.

By the time San Diego State dialed up a successful Philly Special on its final 2-point conversion attempt, it wasn't even the craziest part of the Aztecs' triple-overtime thriller with Utah. Quarterback Lucas Johnson caught a 2-point conversion pass from Jesse Matthews in triple overtime, and San Diego State blew a 14-point lead in the final minutes of regulation before hanging on for a 33-31 victory over the Utes on Saturday night.

The Associated Press preseason college football poll has been released and Alabama is No. 1.

FILE - In this Dec. 19, 2020, file photo, Utah running back Ty Jordan (22) scores against Washington State during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Salt Lake City. Jordan, a star freshman running back for the University of Utah who grew up in the Dallas area, has died, school officials announced Saturday, Dec. 26. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)DALLAS – Ty Jordan, a star freshman running back for the University of Utah who grew up in the Dallas area, has died, school officials announced Saturday. “Words cannot express the devastation and heartache that our team is feeling right now upon learning of the tragic death of our teammate and brother, Ty Jordan,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in a statement. He made a seamless transition to the college game, including three straight 100-yard rushing performances to close out the season.

The school said Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, the players have decided to opt out of any potential bowl game. The IIHF also said two members of Sweden’s team staff tested positive. The network did not say if Michaels had tested positive or had been in contact with someone who had tested positive. The Huskies said in a statement that no one from their program was in close contact with the individual who tested positive at Seton Hall. Ferentz is the 23rd FBS coach to reveal publicly that he tested positive for the virus.

As announced via twitter this afternoon, the 2019 Valero Alamo Bowl will feature a matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the No. “We’re thrilled to be the Big 12 representative at the Alamo Bowl," Texas head coach Tom Herman said. "We want to thank the Alamo Bowl for inviting us. Over the phone at the Valero Alamo Bowl press conference, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said the team is excited for the opportunity to play in San Antonio, “It’s our first trip to the Alamo Bowl. Both sides are truly fired up to be coming to the Valero Alamo Bowl, so it makes it a lot of fun for a great bowl week.”Kickoff for the 2019 Alamo Bowl is set for 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 31.