Upcoming Event: Football versus No. 17 Texas Tech on September 20, 2025 at 10 a.m.
10 a.m.
Football
vs No. 17 Texas Tech
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Saturday, October 8
Salt Lake City, Utah
8:00 PM
University of Utah
vs
Arizona
No. 24 Utah Hosts Arizona in Annual Homecoming Game
10/3/2016 11:31 AM | Football
The Game
> No. 24 Utah (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) vs. Arizona (2-3, 0-2 Pac-12)
> Saturday, Oct. 8, 8:00 p.m. MDT, Salt Lake City
> Homecoming
> Televised on FS1
> Search #AZvsUTAH for conversation
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Whitt 100 Watch
> Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is one win away from career victory No. 100. He is 99-47 in his 12th season at the helm.
> There are 23 active FBS head coaches with 100 career victories.
> Whittingham, in his 23rd season overall at Utah, has participated in more wins (184) than any football coach—head or assistant—in school history.
> Nine of his 99 career wins as a head coach have come in bowl games and Whittingham has the best bowl win percentage (.900) in NCAA history. He is 9-1 in bowl games and 2-0 in BCS bowls (predecessor to the College Football Playoff games). See sidebar on page 2 for more on Whittingham.
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Five Facts
> Kyle Whittingham's first regular-season victory as a head coach was against Arizona in the 2005 season opener. His first victory was as co-head coach of Utah's 2005 Fiesta Bowl team (2004 season).
> Utah is in the top 25 for the third straight week. The Utes slipped six places to No. 24 in both the AP and the Coaches' polls following a heartbreaking loss to California last Saturday. See pages 16-18 for Utah's history in the national rankings.
> Utah, which leads the Pac-12 and is tied for No. 2 in the nation with nine fourth down conversions (9-of-10), was successful on its first nine attempts of the season before getting stopped on its fifth attempt of the game against California last week.
> This Saturday marks Utah's 96th homecoming game. Utah is 58-33-4 all-time in homecoming games.
> The Utes are 2-0 in homecoming games against Arizona, although they have not met in a Utah homecoming as Pac-12 opponents. Utah is 12-12-1 all-time in homecoming games against Pac-12 schools and 1-4 since becoming a league member in 2011.
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Statchat
> Utah ranks No. 1 in the nation in net punting (47.55).
> Utah is tied for 2nd nationally and leads the Pac-12 in total fourth down conversions (9).
> Utah is No. 4 in the NCAA and leads the Pac-12 in time of possession (36:13 per game).
> Utah is No. 6 in the nation and leads the Pac-12 in fourth down conversion percentage (.900, 9-for-10).
> Utah is tied for No. 6 in the nation (No. 2 Pac-12) in takeaways with 12 (6 INT, 6 FR).
> Utah is tied for No. 7 in the nation and second in the Pac-12 in total sacks (18).
> Utah is tied for No. 7 in the nation and is No. 2 in the Pac-12 in fumbles recovered (6).
> Utah is tied for No. 10 in the NCAA and second in the Pac-12 in sacks per game (3.60)
> Utah is tied for the Pac-12 lead in interceptions (6).
> Utah is No. 2 in the Pac-12 in rushing defense (117.4) and scoring defense (18.2).
> Utah leads the Pac-12 in fewest sacks (6) and sacks allowed per game (1.20).
> Utah is tied for second in the Pac-12 in TFL per game (7.0).
> Utah is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in total defense (324.4 ypg).
> Utah is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in first down defense (16.4).
> See sidebar on page 3 for complete Utah rankings.
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In the Huddle
The Utes will wear throwback uniforms in this week's game to coincide with the #UUThrowback homecoming theme … First-year Ute sophomore punter Mitch Wishnowsky ranks No. 1 in the nation in punt average (50.6). He has led the country in punting since the opening week … Boobie Hobbs leads the nation in punt returns with 17. He leads the Pac-12 in punt return yards (130) … Two first-year Utes are leading the team in rushing: true freshman Zack Moss is averaging 77.2 yards per game (4.7 yards per carry) and sophomore Armand Shyne is averaging 68.0 ypg (4.6 ypc) … Eight true freshmen have played: Moss, Bradlee Anae, Julian Blackmon, Terrell Burgess, Leki Fotu, Tyler Huntley, Demari Simpkins and Donavan Thompson … Utah has two Pac-12 and national weekly award winners this season: punter Mitch Wishnowsky (Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week and Ray Guy Punter of the Week vs. Southern Utah) and linebacker Sunia Tauteoli (Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week and FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week vs. BYU).
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Two-Minute Drill
Utah is 3-0 at home with wins over Southern Utah, Brigham Young and USC … 16 different players have caught a pass this season … Utah is outscoring its opponents in every quarter but the first (23-30). Utah's best quarter is the second (48-24), followed by the fourth (37-23) and third (24-14) periods … The Utes have sold out 41-straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium since the 2010 season opener. Of those sellouts, 38 have been standing room-only crowds. See Standing Ovation for more on Utah's home attendance.
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Game Day Activities
During the first quarter break, the 2016 Homecoming Court will be introduced on the field. For a list of homecoming week activities, visit alumni.utah.edu/homecoming … Members of the 2016 Crimson Club Hall of Fame class will be introduced at halftime. The inductees are Shannon Bowles (gymnastics), Jim Giottonini (swimming), Kathy Kreiner (skiing), Pace Mannion (men's basketball), the late Pat Miller (ski coach) and the 1994 football team … Baseball coach Bill Kinneberg will be presented the 2015-16 Don Reddish Award, given annually to the coach of the Olympic sport deemed to have had the most successful season … Former soccer goalkeeper Lindsey Luke will be presented the 2015-16 Occie Evans Award, given annually to the top senior female athlete on a team sport … The 2015-16 women's basketball team will be recognized for reaching the third round of the WNIT Tournament.Â
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Outside the Lines
The Kyle Whittingham radio show is Tuesday at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN700. The show will be broadcast live from the Desert Edge Brewery at Trolley Square and is free to the public … The Ute Walk begins at 5:30 p.m. on the corner of Guardsman Way and 500 South. The first 150 fans to show the Utah football promotional text (UtahFB to 53535) will receive an interlocking UU long-sleeved t-shirt … Use the hashtag #AZvsUTAH all week to follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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> No. 24 Utah (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) vs. Arizona (2-3, 0-2 Pac-12)
> Saturday, Oct. 8, 8:00 p.m. MDT, Salt Lake City
> Homecoming
> Televised on FS1
> Search #AZvsUTAH for conversation
Â
Whitt 100 Watch
> Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is one win away from career victory No. 100. He is 99-47 in his 12th season at the helm.
> There are 23 active FBS head coaches with 100 career victories.
> Whittingham, in his 23rd season overall at Utah, has participated in more wins (184) than any football coach—head or assistant—in school history.
> Nine of his 99 career wins as a head coach have come in bowl games and Whittingham has the best bowl win percentage (.900) in NCAA history. He is 9-1 in bowl games and 2-0 in BCS bowls (predecessor to the College Football Playoff games). See sidebar on page 2 for more on Whittingham.
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Five Facts
> Kyle Whittingham's first regular-season victory as a head coach was against Arizona in the 2005 season opener. His first victory was as co-head coach of Utah's 2005 Fiesta Bowl team (2004 season).
> Utah is in the top 25 for the third straight week. The Utes slipped six places to No. 24 in both the AP and the Coaches' polls following a heartbreaking loss to California last Saturday. See pages 16-18 for Utah's history in the national rankings.
> Utah, which leads the Pac-12 and is tied for No. 2 in the nation with nine fourth down conversions (9-of-10), was successful on its first nine attempts of the season before getting stopped on its fifth attempt of the game against California last week.
> This Saturday marks Utah's 96th homecoming game. Utah is 58-33-4 all-time in homecoming games.
> The Utes are 2-0 in homecoming games against Arizona, although they have not met in a Utah homecoming as Pac-12 opponents. Utah is 12-12-1 all-time in homecoming games against Pac-12 schools and 1-4 since becoming a league member in 2011.
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Statchat
> Utah ranks No. 1 in the nation in net punting (47.55).
> Utah is tied for 2nd nationally and leads the Pac-12 in total fourth down conversions (9).
> Utah is No. 4 in the NCAA and leads the Pac-12 in time of possession (36:13 per game).
> Utah is No. 6 in the nation and leads the Pac-12 in fourth down conversion percentage (.900, 9-for-10).
> Utah is tied for No. 6 in the nation (No. 2 Pac-12) in takeaways with 12 (6 INT, 6 FR).
> Utah is tied for No. 7 in the nation and second in the Pac-12 in total sacks (18).
> Utah is tied for No. 7 in the nation and is No. 2 in the Pac-12 in fumbles recovered (6).
> Utah is tied for No. 10 in the NCAA and second in the Pac-12 in sacks per game (3.60)
> Utah is tied for the Pac-12 lead in interceptions (6).
> Utah is No. 2 in the Pac-12 in rushing defense (117.4) and scoring defense (18.2).
> Utah leads the Pac-12 in fewest sacks (6) and sacks allowed per game (1.20).
> Utah is tied for second in the Pac-12 in TFL per game (7.0).
> Utah is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in total defense (324.4 ypg).
> Utah is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in first down defense (16.4).
> See sidebar on page 3 for complete Utah rankings.
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In the Huddle
The Utes will wear throwback uniforms in this week's game to coincide with the #UUThrowback homecoming theme … First-year Ute sophomore punter Mitch Wishnowsky ranks No. 1 in the nation in punt average (50.6). He has led the country in punting since the opening week … Boobie Hobbs leads the nation in punt returns with 17. He leads the Pac-12 in punt return yards (130) … Two first-year Utes are leading the team in rushing: true freshman Zack Moss is averaging 77.2 yards per game (4.7 yards per carry) and sophomore Armand Shyne is averaging 68.0 ypg (4.6 ypc) … Eight true freshmen have played: Moss, Bradlee Anae, Julian Blackmon, Terrell Burgess, Leki Fotu, Tyler Huntley, Demari Simpkins and Donavan Thompson … Utah has two Pac-12 and national weekly award winners this season: punter Mitch Wishnowsky (Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week and Ray Guy Punter of the Week vs. Southern Utah) and linebacker Sunia Tauteoli (Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week and FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week vs. BYU).
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Two-Minute Drill
Utah is 3-0 at home with wins over Southern Utah, Brigham Young and USC … 16 different players have caught a pass this season … Utah is outscoring its opponents in every quarter but the first (23-30). Utah's best quarter is the second (48-24), followed by the fourth (37-23) and third (24-14) periods … The Utes have sold out 41-straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium since the 2010 season opener. Of those sellouts, 38 have been standing room-only crowds. See Standing Ovation for more on Utah's home attendance.
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Game Day Activities
During the first quarter break, the 2016 Homecoming Court will be introduced on the field. For a list of homecoming week activities, visit alumni.utah.edu/homecoming … Members of the 2016 Crimson Club Hall of Fame class will be introduced at halftime. The inductees are Shannon Bowles (gymnastics), Jim Giottonini (swimming), Kathy Kreiner (skiing), Pace Mannion (men's basketball), the late Pat Miller (ski coach) and the 1994 football team … Baseball coach Bill Kinneberg will be presented the 2015-16 Don Reddish Award, given annually to the coach of the Olympic sport deemed to have had the most successful season … Former soccer goalkeeper Lindsey Luke will be presented the 2015-16 Occie Evans Award, given annually to the top senior female athlete on a team sport … The 2015-16 women's basketball team will be recognized for reaching the third round of the WNIT Tournament.Â
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Outside the Lines
The Kyle Whittingham radio show is Tuesday at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN700. The show will be broadcast live from the Desert Edge Brewery at Trolley Square and is free to the public … The Ute Walk begins at 5:30 p.m. on the corner of Guardsman Way and 500 South. The first 150 fans to show the Utah football promotional text (UtahFB to 53535) will receive an interlocking UU long-sleeved t-shirt … Use the hashtag #AZvsUTAH all week to follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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Players Mentioned
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