Cam Rising struggles with Utah's surprising loss to Arizona State

Cam Rising didn't look right from the first snap.

Utah's seventh-year senior quarterback, who had not played since injuring his throwing hand against Baylor on Sept. 7, started Friday night in the Utes' Big 12 match at Arizona State. But after just one offensive series and several missed throws, it was clear he wasn't healthy.

With a glove on his throwing hand, Rising went 2-for-9 for 11 yards on Utah's first two offensive series. He also suffered a severe blow in which he appeared to have twisted his ankle. Either he couldn't grab the ball or he couldn't plant his injured ankle. Or both. The result was that almost every throw fell short and missed the target.

Rising finished the game 16 of 37 for 209 yards and 3 interceptions in Utah's 27-19 loss. All three interceptions were costly. The first two came on Arizona State territory. The third pick effectively ended the game.

Rising also clearly subdued wide receiver Money Parks on a key 4th down play early in the fourth quarter. Parks was wide open and would have easily caught the first down. But the short pass forced him to go down four meters from the marker.

The 25-year-old Rising, widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in college football, injured his throwing hand after being pushed into water coolers on the sideline against Baylor. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that the injury was a dislocated finger on his throwing hand as well as stitches for a deep laceration.

Isaac Wilson, a true freshman, had started the last three games in Rising's absence. After a bye week, there was hope that Rising's hand had healed and he could play.

Wilson, the younger brother of Denver Broncos backup quarterback Zach Wilson, warmed up on the sideline a few times but never got into the game.

Utah, the preseason favorite to win the Big 12, fell to 4-2 and 1-2 with the loss. The Sun Devils, picked to finish last in the conference, improved to 5-1 and 2-1.