The Utes are facing off against the Ducks on football’s center stage.
That’s right, “College GameDay” is in town and all eyes are on Salt Lake City.
The last time Oregon rolled into Utah — in 2021 — the Utes thrashed then-ranked No. 3 Oregon for the Pac-12 South title. The two programs have battled at the top of their conference, claiming two Pac-12 Championships each across four years.
Each team only sits at one loss for the season, and the results of this game could have a big impact on the conference picture.
So how Is Utah handling all of the extra attention?
“First of all, we try to keep the players in a normal routine and not break that,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said this week. “There will be a guy or two that’s going to have more on his plate but it’s great for the team knowing that we’re the center of the college football universe this week.”
Even while trying to block out the noise, Wittigham still recognizes that recognition brought in by GameDay has an impact off the field.
“For the community and the university, it’s awesome. Bringing exposure to our brand and the university and the community generally,” Whittingham said. “It’s a win across the board.”
How to watch No. 8 Oregon at No. 13 Utah
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports
Radio: ESPN 700 AM
Keys to the game
1. Bo Nix
Leading the best offense in the conference, quarterback Bo Nix has pushed Oregon to more than 300 passing yards per game. With only one interception on the season, Nix has taken care of the ball and held an astounding 78.4% completion rating.
“The thing I like about him the most is his competitiveness and his leadership,” said Whittingham. “I’ve had a strong opinion of how good he is for several years.”
2. The run game
Against USC, running back Ja’Quinden Jackson had his most productive performance to date, rushing for 117 yards on 26 carries. Utah will look to feed him the ball more, as it appears the back has gotten over the injury that has limited him over the past few weeks.
“Ja’Quinden is a huge part of our attack. He wasn’t able to before because he had that nagging injury,” said Whittingham. “If we can get him 20-25, even 28 caries, that’s right in his wheelhouse.”
3. The Secondary
Last week, Utah’s secondary came up big, forcing three fumbles and missing only nine tackles. “I thought they did really well. That was a big plus for us,” said Whittingham. “Not only did they play well in coverage, but they came up in run support.
Oregon’s high-octane offense averages 47.0 points a game and will create a challenge for Utah’s secondary. With safety Sione Vaki transitioning into a more offense-oriented role, more pressure will be put on safeties Cole Bishop and Jonathan Hall.
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