Preseason Big 12 favorite Utah will have a new offensive coordinator calling plays as it looks to get back on track at Houston on Saturday in the teams' first meeting since 1978. The Utes (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) carry a three-game losing streak that's seen them plummet in the league. The latest setback was a 13-7 loss at home to TCU last week.
Utah, with true freshman Isaac Wilson at quarterback, gained just 267 yards, never reached the red zone, and either punted or turned the ball over on downs on 13 of their 14 drives. That performance, and the Utes' overall offensive struggles, cost longtime offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig his job. Utah announced Sunday evening that Ludwig had stepped down, with his position filled in the interim by Mike Bajakian.
Bajakian is in his first year as an offensive analyst after a stint as offensive coordinator for Northwestern from 2020-23. "The system is the system -- there will obviously be tweaks but we'll address those as they come," Bajakian said. "We're going to emphasize doing the little things, from our effort to our physicality, to trying to change things with our passion and energy.
" The Cougars (2-5, 1-3) head home after a 42-14 dismantling by host Kansas last week. Donovan Smith entered the game in the second quarter after starting quarterback Zeon Chriss suffered a quad injury and passed for 173 yards and two TDs. But Smith was also picked off three times.
Smith, who's been battling a balky throwing shoulder, is expected to start Satu.