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They were not the usual Frank Kush Sun Devils. In fact, they'd go on to become the only losing team Kush coached during 22 years in Tempe, finishing 4-7.
But they still represented Arizona State, then the pride of the Western Athletic Conference. They'd gone 12-0 in 1975 and finished No. 2 in the AP poll after a fifth bowl victory in six seasons.
And these were still the hapless Utes.
Going into Tempe.
And winning.
"That was a hell of a game for us," said 1976 junior wideout Jack Steptoe, credited for nine catches, 168 yards and two first-half touchdowns in the 31-28 upset. "We were fired up that game, because we had nothing to lose."
Utah was coached by Tom Lovat, who holds the distinctions of having Utah's all-time worst winning percentage, at 5-28, and yet being the last Utah head coach to beat ASU.
Not for lack of trying, either. Despite ASU's move to the Pac-10 in 1978, the two teams have met 11 times since.
Utah might've snapped the skid in 2013, if not for a go-ahead ASU scoring drive with less than three minutes remaining. Travis Wilson, who threw interceptions on Utah's final two possessions, sustained a concussion that led doctors to discover a pre-existing neurological condition and shut him down for the season.
In 2014, the 6-1 Utes were outgained 444 to 241 in Tempe — as Wilson passed for just 57 yards on 22 attempts — and lost in overtime on a missed 35-yarder from Andy Phillips. Poof went Utah's College Football Playoff hopes.
And yet, history be damned, No. 4 Utah entered this week as a touchdown favorite.
ASU coach Todd Graham said at Pac-12 Media Days in July that he felt this was his best team ever — only to be beaten thoroughly twice in his first four games, at No. 9 Texas A&M and against USC.
But "they seem to be hitting their stride" after wins against UCLA and Colorado, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Monday.
Graham's teams aren't flashy. They typically make few mistakes — ASU's 33 penalty yards per game are fourth-fewest in the nation — and play aggressive defense — tied for fourth nationally with 9.3 tackles for loss per game.
"They've got a scheme that they haven't deviated much from since Coach Graham arrived there," Whittingham said. "… You know it's coming, you've just got to block it.
On offense, they're led by live-armed senior quarterback Mike Bercovici, who has passed for 1,604 yards, 14 touchdowns and just four interceptions after patiently waiting his turn behind now-graduate assistant Taylor Kelly.
The seeming emergence of junior wideout Tim White — who caught seven passes for 144 yards and two of Bercovici's five touchdowns against Colorado — has the Sun Devils finally verging on a full complement of skill players, including running back Demario Richard (529 yards) and versatile senior D.J. Foster (267 yards receiving, 195 yards rushing).
But central to their recent success has been the offensive line, with a trio of fifth-year seniors at its core, Whittingham said.
Utah senior linebacker Gionni Paul was recruited by Graham's predecessor, Utah running backs coach Dennis Erickson, and admitted Monday that it "kinda hurt" to lose to the team he once planned to be a part of.
"After last year's game, I marked it on my calendar, like, "Man, they ain't gonna beat us this year," he said. "Even if I gotta take it upon myself."
Steptoe, now a 59-year-old head coach at College of the Desert, was 20 when his Utes cramped Kush's style.
The following year brought a return to the norm, as Kush beat Utah — with some new assistants by the names of John Pease, Ron McBride and Pat Hill — 47-19.
Steptoe doesn't remember anything particular that Lovat said to fire them up on that day in November 1976. They'd had a great week of practice, he knows, at least.
"They took us lightly and we came down ready to play."
Arizona State is unlikely to take this Utah team lightly.
But the Utes say they'll be ready.
The streak is "not OK," said junior right tackle J.J. Dielman, who played high school ball 14 miles away from Sun Devil Stadium.
"We're going to do everything we can to change that."
Arizona State at No. 4 Utah
O Saturday, 8 p.m.
TV • ESPN