Patrick Kinahan: The quarterback's injuries cost Ludwig his job as offensive coordinator at Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — All of those high expectations for Utah football this season, which seem a little silly right now, were essentially based on one player.

The projected Big 12 championship, as well as a potential undefeated season and resulting spot in the national playoff quarterfinals, all depended on Cam Rising's health.

With the seventh-year quarterback out for the season due to multiple injuries, the Utes were just another team in their new conference.

Any other argument is ridiculous. Despite all the great players on the roster – and there are several at different positions – the team's fate was literally in Rising's hands.

It's all so obvious.

In fact, without Rising, the Utes are just another mediocre Big 12 team. And we're being friendly, here they're actually much closer to the ground than in the middle.

Look no further than the last two games for conclusive proof. With a severely limited Rising whose injuries prevented him from throwing and running well, Utah lost to Arizona State, which won a total of six games in the previous two seasons and was picked to finish last in the preseason conference poll.

To add to the embarrassment, the Utes scored just one touchdown in Saturday's loss to TCU in a game that had the home team booing the home team at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The extremely mediocre Horned Frogs had already lost two conference home games and gave up 66 points in a loss to crosstown rival SMU last month.

In the high-priced world of college football, someone had to pay the price. Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig lost out and lost his position, which he had held since 2019.

In a press release issued Sunday evening, coach Kyle Whittingham said Ludwig “has made the decision to step down from his position.” Whether he is pushed or poked, it makes no difference – he is gone.

Two years ago, Ludwig at least to some extent flirted with a similar position towards Notre Dame. Ultimately, he wouldn't leave, Ludwig said at the time, as he planned to retire in Utah.

At 60 and a trainer since 1987, Ludwig knows the business. Perhaps his wish to retire in Utah came true, even if not as planned.

The job now likely belongs to analyst Mike Bajakian, who has served as a coordinator and quarterbacks coach at five different college programs and also coached with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No matter how competent he may be, do not expect all problems to suddenly disappear.

Who knows if a healthy Rising would have made a difference in three straight losses, a streak that started against Arizona. But he led them to back-to-back Pac-12 championships in 2021 and 2022 and two Rose Bowl appearances.

The truth is that the Utes have adequate replacements across the field for the inevitable injuries that occur every season — except for one position. Yeah, you know, it's the quarterback.

For all his promise, Isaac Wilson isn't ready to lead Utah to a conference championship. Actually, this isn't a freshman quarterback.

It turns out that the two games Utah won with Wilson as the starter proved nothing. Utah State and Oklahoma State are bad teams, both sitting at a combined 0-7 in their respective conferences.

Please don't confuse this with blaming a child who barely graduated high school. This offense has more problems than a quarterback who should spend his first college season on the sidelines sending signals.

Start up front with the offensive line, which as a whole was unable to provide consistent protection last game. There's also a receiving corps that disappoints every year, and this season is no exception.

“We really need to take a hard look at everything in the next 24 to 48 hours,” Whittingham said after the loss, “and make some tough decisions and see where we are.”

It didn't even get that far. Less than 24 hours later, fair or not, a respected coach was lost.