This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There will be no crown for Utah football this year. But after losing its own title shot, it faces a new role in the Pac-12 South on Saturday: kingmaker.
The Utes (8-3, 5-3) won't have a division title on the line in Boulder this weekend, but partly control the destiny of whoever does win it. With a loss, their opponent, No. 10 Colorado (9-2, 7-1), would ascend to its first-ever South Division title. With a win, USC — which finished its conference season at 7-2 last week — would go to the Pac-12 championship game for a second straight year.
But after getting their own dreams dashed by Oregon in a 30-28 loss last weekend, the Utes are ready to embrace the spoiler role themselves.
"I want [Colorado] to feel how we felt after Oregon," senior receiver Tim Patrick said.
This week finds Utah facing a top-10 opponent in the Buffs, who are fresh off a win over visiting Washington State.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said the Buffaloes remind him of Washington: a complete team with a balanced offense and a stingy defense. Opposing offenses have scored an average of only 18.5 points per game, and the Buffs have a pair of quarterbacks — Sefo Liufau and Steven Montez — who have each led CU to impressive victories. Running back Phillip Lindsay has been a threat on the ground (934 yards) and catching passes out of the backfield (311 yards).
Reviewing the loss to the Ducks — the third year in a row the Utes have lost the second-to-last game of the season with Pac-12 South implications in play — Whittingham still considered Utah's eight wins so far "a good season" and said the Utes don't need to make wholesale changes to their schemes.
Whittingham said he was most disappointed in the defense, which failed to make a stop on Oregon's last four drives — all for touchdowns — and lacked awareness in zone coverage against Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. He added the offense "was dormant" through much of the third and fourth quarters, including only 77 yards in the second half.
Ultimately, on the decisive touchdown catch by Darren Carrington, the Utes ended up paying for all their sins.
"It's a game of inches," he said. "We came up short."
The Utes mourned their South Division hopes in different ways, trying to burn off the frustration that was deeply felt in the locker room after. Patrick said he went home to play with his puppies, Tango and Cash. Quarterback Troy Williams said he prayed.
The Utes who attended Monday's press conference said they were still angry at missing out on a chance to play for a title this weekend, but were refocusing for motivation against a team they've beaten in four straight meetings. Colorado has always played Utah tough, even in all the years it finished last in the Pac-12: The last five games have all been within a score.
Colorado played spoiler itself in 2011, when Utah fell at home on a late field goal on Senior Day, 17-14, with a chance to clinch a Pac-12 title game berth. The Utes aim to return the favor.
"It's already bad right now," Williams said. "We don't want to make it worse."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Utah at Colorado
P Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
TV • Ch. 13