Utah quarterback Cameron Rising is not expected to play on Thursday vs. Florida, according to a report Wednesday by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Rising, who is 18-6 as a starter the last two seasons, tore his ACL in the Rose Bowl vs. Penn State and has been limited during preseason practices. The No. 14 Utes are expected to start junior Bryson Barnes at quarterback — with redshirt freshman backup Nate Johnson also likely to play — when they host the Gators in a nationally televised game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

Rising passed for 3,034 yards and 26 touchdowns last season, including 216 yards and a score in a 29-26 loss to Florida in Gainesville last year. The Utes rebounded to win 10 of their final 12 games, claiming their second straight Pac-12 championship.

Florida, coming off a 6-7 finish under first-year coach Billy Napier in 2022, is set to start Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz at quarterback on Thursday. Mertz passed for 2,136 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Badgers a year ago.

Kickoff for Florida-Utah on Thursday is set for 7 p.m. Central on ESPN.