Just when Utah fans were beginning to hope for a late-season surge, quarterback Cam Rising delivered a gut punch: his season is officially over after re-aggravating a lingering knee injury during practice. The announcement came via a personal statement from Rising, who revealed he experienced swelling and pain following a light scrimmage and MRI results showed additional damage to his surgically repaired knee. “I’ve given everything to this team,” Rising wrote, “but my body isn’t ready.” Head coach Kyle Whittingham was visibly emotional during the press conference, calling the news “a nightmare setback for the heart of this program.” Rising, who led Utah to back-to-back Pac-12 titles, had been cleared for limited reps earlier this month, sparking hopes of a heroic return. His absence has left a massive void in both leadership and playmaking. Backup Bryson Barnes is now under pressure to carry the load, but fans know the emotional toll of losing Rising can’t be measured in stats. As Utah’s schedule intensifies, the focus now shifts to resilience—and wondering what could’ve been in Cam Rising’s final year.
