The story of Brandon Rose and Utah football is one of those "what if" tales that still gets people talking in Salt Lake City. Honestly, it’s a bit of a heartbreaker. You have this kid from Temecula, California, who basically sat in the wings for years, waiting for his shot, only to have the universe pull the rug out from under him the moment he finally grabbed the spotlight.
Rose arrived at Utah as a three-star recruit with a massive arm and a lot of hype. People expected him to be the heir apparent to Cam Rising. But as we've seen, the quarterback room at Utah over the last few seasons has been anything but predictable.
The Mystery of the 2023 Scrimmage
Before we look at his departure, we have to talk about the 2023 preseason. That's where things first got weird. Rose was lighting it up in spring ball. He went 19-of-24 in the spring game, and everyone thought, "Okay, if Cam Rising isn't ready for the Florida opener, it’s Brandon’s time."
Then, a Friday scrimmage in August changed everything.
Details were scarce. Coach Kyle Whittingham didn't say much, which is typical, but rumors flew about a serious injury. Rose ended up in the hospital, and while he eventually recovered, that "undisclosed" setback cost him the backup job to Bryson Barnes. He didn't see a single snap in 2023. You've got to feel for a guy who works that hard only to be sidelined by a freak practice injury right before the season starts.
That Rivalry Game: A Bittersweet Peak
Fast forward to 2024. The Utah quarterback situation was, frankly, a mess. Rising was out again, and Isaac Wilson was getting the nods. But after some struggles, the coaches finally turned to Rose in the Holy War against BYU.
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It was his first collegiate start.
The atmosphere was electric. Rose actually looked like the guy everyone hoped he’d be. He threw for 112 yards and two touchdowns, and he was killing it on the ground, too, racking up 55 rushing yards. He had the Utes in a position to upset a top-10 ranked BYU team.
Then came the foot injury.
Rose tore his Lisfranc ligament during that game. If you know anything about sports medicine, you know a Lisfranc injury is a nightmare for a mobile quarterback. He actually played through it for a bit—apparently using a steel-plated insole and some heavy-duty pain meds—but the damage was done. Utah lost on a last-second field goal, and Rose was ruled out for the rest of the season.
That was the last time we saw Brandon Rose in a Utah uniform.
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Why Brandon Rose Left Utah Football
By January 2025, the writing was on the wall. Utah was bringing in new talent, and with Mike Bajakian moving on to become the offensive coordinator at UMass, Rose decided he needed a fresh start. He officially entered the transfer portal and followed Bajakian to Amherst.
Most fans in Salt Lake didn't blame him. He’d given the program three years and literally played through a broken foot to try and beat a rival.
The UMass Chapter (2025)
At UMass, Rose finally got the "QB1" title he’d been chasing. He won the starting job for the 2025 season opener against Temple. However, his luck with the injury bug didn't exactly improve.
- He missed all of spring practice in 2025 rehabbing a shoulder issue.
- Once the season started, he struggled with consistency and more "undisclosed" health tweaks.
- In six games for the Minutemen, he threw for 424 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.
By November 2025, he was splitting reps with AJ Hairston. It wasn't the Cinderella story he was looking for when he left the Big 12 for the Independent ranks.
Where is Brandon Rose in 2026?
As of early 2026, Brandon Rose has entered the transfer portal once again. After a single, injury-plagued season at UMass, he’s looking for a final destination to spend his last year of eligibility.
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It’s a tough spot. He’s 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds with "pro-style" traits, but his medical red flags are long enough to wrap around Rice-Eccles Stadium. When he’s healthy, he’s a legitimate dual-threat who can manage a high-level offense. The problem is, "when he's healthy" has become a rare occurrence over the last four years.
The Reality of the Utah QB Room
Looking back, Rose was caught in a perfect storm. He was stuck behind a legend in Cam Rising and then got leapfrogged by younger "flashy" recruits while he was stuck in the training room. Utah fans generally remember him as the guy who could have been great if his body hadn't betrayed him in the 2024 BYU game.
His departure was part of a larger exodus of quarterbacks from Utah in 2025, which saw several players leave as the program looked to reset its identity under the eventual transition to Morgan Scalley.
What’s Next for Rose?
If you're a scout or a coach looking at Rose in the portal right now, you're looking at a guy with a high ceiling but a low floor due to durability. He needs a system that doesn't ask him to run 15 times a game. His Lisfranc recovery and subsequent shoulder issues mean he's likely looking at a Group of Five or a high-level FCS program where he can be the undisputed veteran leader without a three-way battle for reps.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Monitor the Winter 2026 Transfer Tracker: Rose is officially in the portal as of January 2026. Expect him to land at a school with a familiar offensive scheme, likely one with ties to the West Coast.
- Evaluate the Medical Reports: Any team taking a flyer on Rose will be doing deep dives into that 2024 foot surgery and his 2025 shoulder rehab.
- Watch Utah’s 2026 QB Depth: The Utes have moved on to a post-Rose/Rising era, focusing heavily on 2026 recruits to stabilize a room that has been chaotic since 2023.