Utah Football Travels to Oregon For Pac-12 Opener

9/21/2015 12:00 AM | Football

Sept. 21, 2015

The Game

> No. 18/17 Utah (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. No. 13/13 Oregon (2-1, 0-0 Pac-12).
> Saturday, Sept. 26 • 5:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. MT, Autzen Stadium.
> Televised on FOX.
> Search #UTAHvsUO for conversation.

The Ducks and Utes clash in a North vs. South battle that could be season-defining.
Who you got? #Pac12FB pic.twitter.com/IdidjDh6nQ
— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) September 21, 2015

In the Rankings

> Utah jumped three spots to No. 18 in this week's AP rankings and four spots to No. 17 in the Coaches' poll.
> This is Utah's third-straight week in the top 25.
> No. 13 Oregon is Utah's first ranked opponent this season.
> Utah is 1-3 against ranked Oregon teams, winning in 2003 and losing in 2001, 2013 and 2014. The Utes are 0-1 when both teams are ranked (2014).
> All but two of Utah's all-time wins against AP-ranked opponents have come in the last 20 years and Utah is 17-20 against ranked teams since 1994. For Utah's all-time ranking history, see pages 16-17.

One kick return, one kick return TD for @Utah_Football's Cory Butler-Byrd, this week's @pac12 Special Teams POTW! pic.twitter.com/3b3U6SN1nz
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) September 21, 2015

Statchat

> Utah is tied for fourth in the nation with two defensive touchdowns (1 interception return, 1 fumble return).
> The offensive line has allowed just one sack to tie for sixth in the nation and first in the Pac-12.
> Utah is ranked sixth in the nation and leads the Pac-12 in kickoff return average (33.0).
> Utah is tied for 13th in the nation (second in the Pac-12) with five interceptions.
> Utah is second in the Pac-12 in rushing defense, holding opponents to 105.7 yards per game.
> The Utes are 6-of-7 in fourth-down conversions for an 85.7 conversion percentage, which is second in the Pac-12.
> Utah is tied for the Pac-12 lead in turnover margin, averaging 1.33 turnovers gained per game (8 gained, 4 lost).

The Series

> Oregon's 20-8 series lead includes an 11-4 edge in Eugene.
> Utah's last win in Autzen Stadium was in 1994, also current head coach Kyle Whittingham's first year on the Utah staff (as the defensive line coach).
> For complete series information, see page 2.

Streaks

With last week's win over Fresno State, Utah has won its last nine nonconference games, including 17-straight nonconference home games … Utah's last nonconference defeat was at Utah State in 2012. The last nonconference team to beat Utah at home was Boise State in 2006 … Utah is 7-0 against nonconference teams in the last two seasons … The Utes are 0-4 in Pac-12 openers, losing to USC in 2011, Arizona State in 2012, Oregon State in 2013 and Washington State in 2014.

Kyle Whittingham gets career win number 88 tonight to tie Ron McBride for 2nd most in Utah Football History. #Utes @Utah_Football
— Bill Riley (@espn700bill) September 20, 2015

The Drive

The season premiere of The Drive: Pac-12 Football, featuring the 2015 Utah football team, will air on Wednesday, Sept. 23 on Pac-12 Network. The first episode of The Drive will cover fall camp and Utah's three non-conference games. For the remainder of the season, the show will air weekly. The Drive is in its third season.

Two-Minute Drill

Utah is 1-1 all-time on FOX with a win against Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl and a loss to UCLA in 2012 … Utah's coaches will participate in the American Football Coaches Association's national charity project for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy by wearing Coach to Cure MD patches on the sidelines in Saturday's game … Including this week's game at Oregon (5:30 p.m. PT kick time), all four of Utah's games have been night kickoffs. Last season, Utah was 4-3 in night games … The Utes have scored on 10-of-11 red zone opportunities this season with seven touchdowns (64%) and three field goals … Utah has allowed just three points in the first quarter and just seven in the third quarter. Utah's best offensive quarter is the fourth (31 points).

A photo posted by Rice Eccles Stadium (@rice_eccles) on Sep 21, 2015 at 8:11am PDT

In the Huddle

Cory Butler-Byrd is the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week after his 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Fresno State on the first return of his NCAA career. Butler-Byrd becomes Utah's third Pac-12 award winner in as many weeks. Justin Thomas (Michigan) and Gionni Paul (Utah State) were cited as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 8 and Sept. 14, respectively … The only member of the team from Oregon is sophomore Evan Eggiman (Hillsboro/Liberty HS), who plays on special teams … Sophomore defensive back Tavaris Williams is lost for the season to an injury suffered in the opener against Michigan … Moving into the two deep at X receiver this week is sophomore Kenric Young … Dominique Hatfield has replaced Reggie Porter as the starter at left corner. Hatfield made his first start of the season last Saturday … Defensive end Kylie Fitts got his first career start against Fresno State and is listed as either/or on the latest depth with Hunter Dimick, who missed last week's game … Other positions where the starter will likely be a game-day decision are quarterback (Travis Wilson or Kendal Thompson) and slot receiver (Bubba Poole or Britain Covey) … Five true freshmen have played: Covey, Tyrone Smith, Cody Barton, Austin Lee and Caleb Repp. Smith and Covey have both started at receiver.

Outside the Lines

The Kyle Whittingham radio show is Tuesday at 6 p.m. on ESPN700. The show is broadcast live from the Desert Edge Brewery at Trolley Square and is free to the public.