San Diego • Kyle Whittingham’s 25th season as a member of Utah’s football staff ended Monday night, when he witnessed a turnaround unlike anything in his coaching career.

Four Utah turnovers. Four Northwestern touchdowns. Just like that, the story went from Utah’s history of thriving in bowl games to having everybody wonder what just happened in the 41st Holiday Bowl.

Northwestern went from trailing by 17 points at halftime to winning by 11 after three quarters of a 31-20 victory at SDCCU Stadium.

“I've been coaching a long time, and I don't think I've ever been part of a quarter like that third quarter,” Whittingham said.

The fourth quarter of Utah's 35-27 win over BYU in November comes close. The Utes staged their own 28-0 closing run that night, although that rally from 20 points behind started late in the third quarter and didn't include any takeaways.

In this episode, Utah’s turnovers resulted in one defensive touchdown for Northwestern and demoralized its own defense. “We kind of smile in the face of adversity,” Ute linebacker Cody Barton said, but the offense’s two interceptions and two fumbles in the third quarter caused too much emotional damage.

So the Utes (9-5) now have lost a bowl game in the program’s Pac-12 era, having made six trips in eight seasons. They’ll also live with two losses to end a year for the first time since 1996, thanks to Washington’s win in the Pac-12 championship game. Whittingham’s bowl record is 11-2.

Referencing the school's first Pac-12 South title, Whittingham said, “Without question, this was a big step forward for our program this year.”

That was difficult to remember, amid Monday’s madness.

Three takeaways

• Utah’s veteran offensive line will need three replacements in 2019, and will require some improvement in run blocking against top-tier opponents.

In losses to Washington and Northwestern, Utah averaged only 71 rushing yards. The Utes posted 91 yards Monday, thanks mostly to quarterback Jason Shelley. A stronger running game would have enabled Utah to finish drives and kept outgoing offensive coordinator Troy Taylor from calling a run-pass option from the 6-yard line on the play that resulted in Northwestern’s touchdown via Shelley’s fumble.

“I'm a firm believer you don't have to run for 300 yards a game, but you've got to run it efficiently,” Whittingham said.

The return of injured running back Zack Moss, a 2019 NFL draft prospect as a junior, certainly would help.

• In a weird way, Jason Shelley’s performance may have solved a dilemma. For all of the good things Shelley did in three November wins and in Monday’s first half, Tyler Huntley is Utah’s best quarterback.

Huntley couldn't play against Northwestern, eight weeks after breaking his collarbone, but he'll be healthy for spring practice in March and likely will be the starter as a senior.

Even so, Shelley is a proven player, having passed for 302 yards in a bowl game. His turn will come again as a junior in 2020.

• The Utes could have gone to the Rose Bowl. They also could have finished 8-6, with three straight losses. Utah’s strong finish against BYU became more important after the missed opportunities against Washington and Northwestern. Imagine what this offseason would be like otherwise.

Player of the game

Clayton Thorson. Northwestern's quarterback completed 21 of 30 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, becoming the school's career passing yards leader in his 53rd start.

Runner-up: Barton. Utah’s linebacker made eight tackles and moved ahead of teammate Chase Hansen for the season, with Hansen missing the game due to an undisclosed injury. Amid his disappointment, Barton said, “I’ve had a great senior season; nothing to hang my head about. No one on this team should hang their head.”

Play of the game

With the Utes seemingly about to restore their lead to 27-10 midway through the third quarter, Northwestern's Joe Gaziano stripped the ball from Shelley. Jared McGee picked it up and ran 86 yards to the end zone. Just like that, it was 20-17. The Utes still led, but it suddenly felt like they were behind.

Runner-up: Shelley’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Dixon for Utah’s first score. That threaded pass was one of nine connections for the high school teammates, but they also were involved in all six of Utah turnovers.

Looking ahead

The Utah-BYU game in Provo is less than eight months away. It’s Rivalry Week, for 35 weeks. Other checkpoints exist, though.

Utah has two staff vacancies, needing an offensive coordinator and a defensive assistant. Whittingham had interest in former Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez, Yahoo Sports reported, before Rodriguez took a job at Mississippi. Whittingham is immersing himself in that process and would like to have a coach hired by early next week, but it may take longer.

Utah also needs to replace linebackers coach Justin Ena. Whittingham said the new coach may work with the safeties, apparently meaning defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley would take the linebackers.

The Utes' draft-eligible juniors must decide by mid-January whether they will stay in school. Moss and defensive linemen Bradlee Anae and Leki Fotu are candidates. Whittingham said it is possible they’ll all stay, but he’s prepared to lose one or two of them.