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Bernard runs for 182 yards and No. 12 Utah wins its Big 12 debut, beating No. 14 Oklahoma State 22-19

Bernard runs for 182 yards and No. 12 Utah wins its Big 12 debut, beating No. 14 Oklahoma State 22-19

Micah Bernard ran for a career-high 182 yards and No. 12 Utah mounted a fourth-quarter comeback to beat No. 14 Oklahoma State 22-19 on Saturday in the Utes' first Big 12 game since their elimination from the Pac-12.

Brant Kuithe scored two touchdowns and Cole Becker kicked three field goals for Utah (4-0, 1-0).

Freshman Isaac Wilson threw for 207 yards and a touchdown and ran for 41 yards in place of injured Utes starter Cam Rising, who warmed up but did not play.

Oklahoma State's Alan Bowman, who had been benched after an ineffective first half, returned midway through the fourth quarter and threw two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to help Oklahoma State (3-1, 0-1) cut Utah's lead to three points.

Bowman, who completed 8 of 22 passes for 89 yards in the first half, finished with 206 yards and two interceptions. Sophomore Garret Rangel played the third quarter and part of the fourth before Bowman returned with 9:26 left and the Cowboys trailing 16-3.

Utah held Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon II to 42 yards rushing. Gordon won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back last season.

Utah lost the ball three times in the first half, but still led 10-3. Cowboys safety Trey Rucker intercepted Wilson twice. The Utes' defense limited Oklahoma State to 119 yards and five first downs. Gordon carried the ball six times for 16 yards before halftime.

The teams scored field goals before Utah forced a punt and drove 64 yards in 11 plays for the only touchdown of the first half, with Kuithe scoring a direct touchdown from the 1-yard line.

The conclusion

Utah: The Utes played without starters Connor O'Toole and Karene Reid on defense, but still brought in Gordon and Bowman. Utah limited Oklahoma State to 285 yards and forced eight punts.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys almost made a comeback, but they couldn't stop Bernard and the Utes ran out of time.

Next:

Oklahoma State: Visits Kansas State on Saturday.

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