Ben Bryant leads Northwestern previous Utah 14-7 within the Las Vegas Bowl

LAS VEGAS — Ben Bryant handed for 222 yards and located Bryce Kirtz within the nook of the tip zone halfway by way of the fourth quarter, serving to Northwestern beat Utah 14-7 on Saturday night time within the Las Vegas Bowl.

Bryant went 22 for 34 with two touchdowns as Northwestern (8-5) closed out its season with a fourth straight win. The Wildcats restricted Utah (8-5) to 221 yards and had two interceptions and a fumble restoration.

Bryson Barnes was 8 for 13 for 55 yards with two interceptions, and Ja’Quinden Jackson rushed for 55 yards on eight carries to steer Utah, which misplaced three of its final 4 video games.

The Utes trailed 7-0 early within the fourth quarter and tied the sport with 12:38 left when Micah Bernard scored on a 6-yard run. The landing capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive that took 3:59. Bernard was enjoying for the primary time since injuring a knee within the season-opener towards Florida.

Northwestern scored the primary factors of the sport with 1:20 left within the first half when Bryant linked with Cam Johnson from 12 yards out for a rating. The landing capped an eight-play drive that lined 75 yards, together with a 25-yard completion to Marshall Lang to arrange a primary down on the 12-yard line.

The Wildcats had an opportunity at a subject aim on the final play of the half, however Jack Olson missed a 40-yard try. It was his second miss of the half after failing to transform from 51 yards within the first quarter.

Northwestern threatened earlier within the second quarter after Jaheem Joseph intercepted Barnes and returned it 45 yards to the Utah 7. However Northwestern was stopped on a third-and-goal play from the 1, and Barnes then threw incomplete on fourth down, turning the ball over.

Joseph additionally intercepted a go ultimately zone to thwart a Utah drive within the first quarter.

Utah: The Utes will hope to rebound from a disappointing season with quarterback Cam Rising, who missed the entire season with a knee damage, returning for 2024. It will likely be his seventh season of faculty soccer.

Northwestern: Coach David Braun inherited a workforce that went 1-11 in 2022 and improved to 8-5 with a bowl victory in his first yr as Wildcats’ head coach.

Utah: The Utes, who will transfer from the Pac 12 to the Massive 12 subsequent season, will open the season at house towards Southern Utah on Aug. 29.

Northwestern: The Wildcats open the 2024 season at house towards Miami of Ohio.