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The Utah Utes know chances are slim everything will fall into place and they will represent the South in the first Pac-12 title game, but just knowing they aren't mathematically out of the race is satisfying to the team.

For the Utes to reach the Pac-12 title game, ASU must lose its last two games, UCLA must lose one and the Utes, who play at Washington State Saturday, must win their last two games.

"There is some crazy stuff going on," lineman Tony Bergstrom said. "I'm not making any calls or predictions, but all we can do is what we can take care of and our next goal in our path is Washington State."

Being so close to the goal they set at the beginning of the season but knowing their fate isn't in their hands is making the Utes look back with some regrets, wishing they'd gotten just one more win.

It would be easy to circle the loss at USC in which Coleman Petersen's potentially game-tying 41-yard field goal attempt was blocked as time expired. However, Bergstrom said Utah's flat performance against Cal is even harder for him to get over.

"I'll look back at that Cal game as the biggest regret of my life," Bergstrom said. "I wish if you could have one back, it would be Cal. For whatever reason, the effort wasn't there."

Rather than dwelling on the past, the Utes are looking forward and are more determined than ever to win out.

"We're not going to let up at all this week," cornerback Conroy Black said. "That is where the pressure is, we want to finish strong."

Sharing the credit

Whitingham continued to rave about running back John White, who has 1,191 yards for the season and has moved up to ninth in the nation, averaging 119.1 yards a game.

"He reminds me of a bigger, stronger back," Whittingham said. "He gets stronger as the game goes on. But it's not all John White — there is a great effort by the offensive line with blocking, and Shawn Asiata is doing a great job blocking down the field. Guys are working hard."

Player's home burns

Whittingham said freshman running back Lucky Radley is in California with his family after his mother's home burned. Radley was due back Monday night, Whittingham said.

The circumstances of the fire are being investigated.

"It's unfortunate what happened," Whittingham said.