This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
If playing the BYU Cougars in September felt weird, how about a bowl game in October?
It's early for such an affair, but it represents the mentality of the Utah Utes as they head into Saturday's game against the Washington Huskies (3-1, 1-0).
Forget all the fanfare revolving around the first Pac-12 game at Rice-Eccles Stadium or the homecoming festivities, the Utes (2-1, 0-1) say they are solely focused on a team whose quality of talent they'd normally only get to face in December or January. Of course, the catch is, after Washington, they've got another quality opponent and then another one.
Welcome to the Pac-12 race, boys.
"We've got a stretch of nine good teams, nine bowl teams," Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn said. "It's going to be a tough stretch, and we were talking the other day we could go 9-0 or just as easily go 0-9."
The Utes have said all along they felt they could not only compete in the Pac-12, but also win their league. If they want to see that goal through, then Saturday's game against Washington is a must-win affair for the Utes.
Losing a heartbreaker at USC gave the Utes a little boost of confidence since they played well against one of the old guards in the league. But the loss still put the Utes behind in the league race, even though USC can't qualify for the league championship game due to NCAA sanctions.
However, here is the fun part of being in the Pac-12 as opposed to the Mountain West. An early loss in the MWC always left the Utes praying for a miracle in the form of, say, a New Mexico or Wyoming win over the league leader to keep their hopes alive.
Such miracles aren't needed in the Pac-12, where the competition is so tough even conference champions are known to have a loss or two. In the past 10 years, only USC (2004, 2005) and Oregon (2009) have made it through unscathed.
In 2006, USC and Cal tied for the league title with two losses each. In 2007, USC and Arizona State tied with two losses each.
If history means anything, the Utes know they are still in the league race, but not by much.
"It's early, but we know we are behind the eight ball," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "But it is a competitive conference, and I'd be shocked if anyone goes through the South undefeated."
If the Utes beat the Huskies, next week's home game against Arizona State could be the deciding game in the South.
But first, the Utes have to take care of the Huskies, a team they've never beaten in six attempts.
Those losses — the last of which came in 1979 — were back in the days when the Utes were struggling as a program. If the Utes want to show just how far they've come since then, they have to and should win.
Utah offensive lineman John Cullen said the Utes are prepared to do just that, particularly since they had a bye week to prepare for the Huskies.
"It's been a hard week of getting after it in practice, but we are pumped," he said. "It's a Pac-12 game, and we know we need to show the other teams we can play with Pac-12 opponents."
To beat the Huskies, the Utes must corral Washington quarterback Keith Price, who leads the nation with 14 touchdown passes, and stuff running back Chris Polk, who is 17 yards shy of 3,000 rushing yards in his career.
Thanks to their talents and others, Washington's offense is the most varied the Utes have seen this year.
But as they know, it's just a taste of what is to come in this bowl stretch.
"We are going to give every team a fight to win," running back John White said. "We want to try to take over this conference and win it."
Twitter: @lyawodraska —
Washington at Utah
P At Rice-Eccles Stadium
Kickoff • 5 p.m.
TV • ROOT (Comcast Ch. 52, DirecTV Ch. 683, DISH Ch. 414)
Radio • 700 AM
Records • Utah 2-1, 0-1; Washington 3-1, 1-0
Series history • Washington leads 6-0
Last meeting • Washington, 41-7 (Sept. 15, 1979)
About the Utes • They are 6-0 after byes under coach Kyle Whittingham and haven't lost at home following a bye since BYU, quarterbacked by Washington coach Steve Sarkisian, beat them in 1996. … Offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom and fullback Jake Murphy are not expected to play due to knee injuries suffered in the 54-10 win against BYU. … Saturday's game is the 91st homecoming game for the Utes.
About the Huskies • They are coming off a 31-23 win over Cal in which quarterback Keith Price threw for three touchdowns. … Washington's best pass rusher, defensive end Hau'oli Jamora, tore his ACL against Cal and is expected to be replaced by redshirt freshman Andrew Hudson. … Seven players have caught touchdown passes this year. … Linebacker and captain Cort Dennison is a graduate of Judge Memorial H.S.