This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The previous week in Utah sports was such that we have no energy to spare for introductions.

FOOTBALL • Kyle Whittingham, addressing his team in the locker room after Utah's 24-21 blackout victory over USC, didn't bury the lead.

"Two words: Bowl eligible!"

As you can see in the above video, it goes over pretty well. By the way, I highly suggest making it part of your weekend routine, if it's not already, to check out Utah Athletics' YouTube feed for these recaps.

Anyhow, No. 18 Utah has already surpassed Las Vegas' over/under for regular season wins with five games remaining. The defense has taken a couple shots on the chin and kept swinging away. Devontae Booker has established himself as one of the nation's most punishing tailbacks. Travis Wilson has gone crowd-surfing. Etc.

There remains but one drawback for the Utes: There's nothing left to play for now*.

Our coverage (or that which is not now outdated):

• Game story, with video: Utes earn bowl eligibility in 24-21 victory over Trojans.

• Utah has now won three games of the type that, in the past three years, it lost.

• One of just two ranked teams to beat a ranked team, U. got no love from polls.

• Kyle Goon helps you make sense of the Pac-12's place in the first-ever playoff.

• Kurt Kragthorpe writes that Wilson gave the Utes their biggest Pac-12 victory.

• With video: Wilson got the start and found some magic in the fourth quarter.

* Utah's defense rebounds after a rough first half against Cody Kessler and Co.

• Game notes: Fumbles, returns, Booker and more from Saturday night's drama.

* First-year head coach Steve Sarkisian shoulders the blame for narrow defeats.

• Bowl officials were in attendance to watch the Utes move to 6-1 at Rice-Eccles.

• Linebacker Jared Norris might've been a QB, were it not for best friend Kessler.

• Booker drives Utah's offense, but what drives him is his 1-year-old son, Deashon.

• Utah suspends defensive lineman Moana Ofahengaue before guilty plea Friday.

• Utes in the NFL: Kruger's three sacks are one shy of Smith's four incompletions.

ON DECK • at No. 15 Arizona State, 9 p.m. MT on Saturday in Tempe, Ariz.

* Just checking to make sure you're reading.

MEN'S BASKETBALL • Monday brought fans their first in-person look at the 2014-15 Runnin' Utes, in an intrasquad scrimmage at the Huntsman Center. Delon Wright, Jordan Loveridge, Isaiah Wright and Jakob Poeltl were among those who impressed — with the only problem being that they impressed against none other than the Utes. Then head coach Larry Krystkowiak and Wright were off to San Francisco for Pac-12 Media Day, where they learned that nobody is sleeping on them this time around. The Tribune's Kyle Goon — or "Gooner," as Krystkowiak announced him to other media — was on hand and wrote comprehensive team-by-team notes, explored Utah's likelihood of being spotlighted on future Pac-12 Networks programs, chatted with conference bigwigs about the DirecTV standoff, and made other varied observations.

ON DECK • vs. Pacific, Nov. 6 at the Huntsman Center (exhibition)

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL • Anthony Levrets' squad got less respect from their conference brethren, being picked 11th after an injury to freshman sensation Emily Potter and the graduation of all-everything senior Michelle Plouffe. Levrets and senior forward Taryn Wicijowski think they might surprise some folks.

ON DECK • vs. Alaska-Anchorage, Nov. 5 at the Huntsman Center

WOMEN'S SOCCER • The Utes were all-too-welcoming to their visitors from the Evergreen State, losing to No. 18 Washington 1-0 on Friday and then again to No. 24 Washington State 4-2 on Sunday. Sunday's margin was unusual, given that the Utes had only allowed more than one goal twice previously — and both times, only two. Senior Avery Jenkins and freshman Natalie Vukic scored against the Cougars, with senior Katie Taylor credited with an assist on Jenkins' goal.

ON DECK • vs. Arizona, 1 p.m. Friday at Ute Field; vs. No. 25 Arizona State, 2 p.m. Sunday at Ute Field

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL • Meanwhile, in Washington, Utah's volleyball team had a similar experience, dropping two consecutive straight-sets matches to first No. 3 Washington and then Washington State and moving to 2-8 in conference play. Senior Shelby Dalton had 11 kills and hit .391 against the Huskies and then a match-high 15 kills and .480 against the Cougars.

ON DECK • at No. 18 Arizona State, 7 p.m. Friday in Tempe, Ariz., at No. 15 Arizona, 6 p.m. Sunday in Tucson, Ariz.

MEN'S GOLF • The Utes finished 13th at Price's Give 'Em Five Invitational at the Butterfield Trail Golf Club in El Paso, Texas. Junior Max McGrail led all Utes with a five-under 212, finishing in 31st place and carding a final day 67.

ON DECK • Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational, Nov. 3-5 in Princeville, Hawaii

MEN'S TENNIS • Utah did not compete this week.

ON DECK • ITA Nationals, Nov. 6-9 in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

WOMEN'S TENNIS • Utah did not compete this week.

ON DECK • Brown Invitational, Nov. 7-9, Providence, R.I.

WOMEN'S CROSS-COUNTRY • Utah did not compete this week.

ON DECK • Pac-12 Cross Country Championship, Oct. 31 in Oakland

SWIMMING AND DIVING • Utah did not compete last week.

ON DECK • at Arizona/UNLV, Nov. 1 in Las Vegas

— Matthew Piper

mpiper@sltrib.com

Twitter: @matthew_piper