UCLA Bruins wide receiver Taylor Embree might have to send a thank you note to his father, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Jon Embree. The Buffaloes are leading the Utah Utes 10-0 in Salt Lake City at halftime on Friday. A Colorado victory would clinch a spot for the Bruins in the Pac-12 Championship Game, regardless of what happens Saturday night against the USC Trojans.
Colorado has lost 23 consecutive road games, dating back to 2007, but it was hard to tell in the first half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Buffaloes have 254 yards compared to just 39 for Utah, and a 14-1 advantage in first downs, and have really dominated the game so far.
The lead could have been even larger for Colorado if not for an unfortunate bounce in the first quarter. With 5:27 remaining in the opening quarter, Tyler Hansen completed a pass down the sideline to Toney Clemons on fourth-and-six from the 33-yard line. Clemons gained the first down and more, nearly scoring a touchdown, but he fumbled inside the five-yard line, and the ball rolled into the end zone before going out of bounds, giving Utah the ball.
Had the ball gone out of bounds before the end zone Colorado would have retained possession in position to score a touchdown.
Utah will receive the ball to open the third quarter.
The inaugural Pac-12 Championship Football Game will be played on Friday, December 2 at 5 p.m. PT on Fox. For more UCLA football news and information, be sure to read Bruins Nation.