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Two years ago, Kenneth Scott stepped on the field at Rice-Eccles Stadium ready for something special to happen.
The previous year, he lit up Utah State's secondary for 82 yards and two touchdowns. He was expecting something similar to happen against the Aggies in the 2013 season opener.
Then, during a block in the second series against Utah State, he rolled his ankle, and ended up spending the rest of the game on crutches and the rest of the season on the sideline.
The Ute senior said he doesn't try to have expectations anymore: "It's kind of a gift and a curse playing against them."
But Utah fans have expectations for Scott and a receiving corps that had somewhat mixed results against Michigan. There was some explosiveness in the passing game, driven by passes to slot receivers, tight ends and running backs. But there wasn't much on the outside, as Scott and fellow starter Tyrone Smith combined for 4 catches for 26 yards.
Scott himself said he's not worried about statistics, only the execution of the offense. But the offense could probably use a few more downfield throws — especially against an Aggie defense that only allowed 111 yards through the air and sacked SUU quarterbacks five times.
"We can give them a few more opportunities to catch the ball, which we will," Whittingham said. "If we want get to the level we hope to, then we can't be as one-dimensional in the throw game as we were."
Part of it is simply targets. Travis Wilson said he probably threw to Smith only twice the entire game. But there were other connections that were covered pretty thoroughly by Michigan's secondary, which gave up passing yards underneath but not often deep (Utah's longest completion was 20 yards).
But don't expect a sudden conversion to deep balls on every play. The Utes know their bread-and-butter stuff will be short completions and yards after the catch. When Wilson is dishing like he did last Thursday (24 for 33, 208 yards), the Utes feel fairly comfortable.
"It doesn't really matter to me," Scott said. "As long as the offense is moving and showing its potential, I'm cool with it."
Filiaga looking forward to facing old team • "We're facing Utah during your senior year."
If Matt Wells' had only spent 10 seconds in LT Filiaga's living room and only said that sentence, it would've been enough to sway him. Back in January of 2014, he had just transferred from Utah, and already, he couldn't wait to be back on the Rice-Eccles Stadium field to play his former team.
Now a senior, Filiaga doesn't characterize his desire to beat Utah as "revenge." But he does acknowledge that he's been looking forward to it for a long time. The feelings are a little more complicated now that the 24-year-old has settled into Utah State and had some time away from Salt Lake City.
"It's hard, because I spent more time at Utah than I have at USU, and some of my most cherished memories are there," he said. "I don't feel like I have anything to prove; sometimes things just don't work out the way you hope. But I do want to help my team win, and I want to show my skills."
A former Bingham star, Filiaga played as a freshman and sophomore for the Utes, accruing 35 tackles and two forced fumbles in 21 games. During the 2013 season, he was mostly a backup and special teams player.
Since transferring to the Aggies, Filiaga has taken on a bigger role. Last year he had 61 tackles and two fumble recoveries while taking over for then-injured linebacker Kyler Fackrell. He was injured himself at the end of the year, but bounced back in the season opener for 6 tackles against SUU.
Filiaga's first year at Utah was in 2009, so many of the players he was close to have moved on. He notably is the brother-in-law of Lowell Lotulelei, and there will certainly be familiar faces.
What's not familiar? Schemes.
"I'm not telling my coaches much about Utah's defense," he laughed. "There's been a lot of changes, different staff, different players. I'm sure it's a lot different than the defense I played when I was there."
Booker looking for big game • After an offseason of generating a modest amount of Heisman buzz, Devontae Booker didn't get off to a rousing start to his senior year.
Kyle Whittingham acknowledged he expected a little more production that 69 yards on the ground. Booker feels the same way.
"The defense was tough, they were fighting off blocks real well and getting to the backfield," he said. "I just gotta keep running hard."
There's not much doubt Booker can keep running hard: Even against the Wolverines, he was breaking tackles by the handful.
The big issue, according to Whittingham: "We have to block better." While Michigan's defense did plug holes quite soundly, especially in a lights-out first half, the Utes felt they left some yards on the ground thanks to a lack of push up front.
"There weren't a whole lot of missed assignments, we just didn't move people around," Whittingham said. "Give credit to Michigan; that's a big front seven. They're physical, but nonetheless, we have to create some lanes and space for Devontae [Booker] and all of the running backs."
While Utah State didn't do some things well against Southern Utah, it did only allow 52 rushing yards. Traditionally, the Aggies are very strong against the run, and now former USU linebacker coach Kevin Clune is running the show.
With a rivalry game on the line, Booker is expecting nothing but Utah State's best.
"We expect them to give their all out on the field," Booker said. "I know they're going to have some juice and be hyped up for this game."
Twitter: @kylegoon