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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Football Hosts USC in Blackout Game
9/19/2016 2:50 PM | Football
The Game
> No. 24/23 Utah (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. USC (1-2, 0-1 Pac-12)
> Friday, Sept. 23, 7:00 p.m. MT, Rice-Eccles Stadium
> Televised on FS1
> Search #USCvsUTAH for conversation
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Blackout
> Friday is the ninth-annual blackout game in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
> Utah's last home game against USC in 2014—a 24-21 win—was also a blackout game.
> Utah is 6-2 in blackout games, beating TCU (2008), Wyoming (2009), Oregon State (2011), Cal (2012), USC (2014) and Oregon State (2015), and losing to TCU (2010) and UCLA (2013).
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Five Facts
> Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham needs two more victories to reach career win No. 100. Whittingham is 98-46 in his 12th season at the helm.
> Utah has cracked the national rankings for the first time this season. The Utes are No. 24 AP and No. 23 Coaches in this week's polls.
> Utah is off to a 3-0 start for the third-straight season after winning all of its non-conference regular-season games. Utah is 20-1 in non-conference games since joining the Pac-12 Conference in 2011.
> Utah is 1-4 in Pac-12 openers, losing its first conference game of the season from 2011-14 before beating Oregon last year in Eugene, 62-20.
> Last year, Utah was 6-0 and ranked No. 3 in the country (AP) before playing and losing to USC, 42-24, in the Coliseum.
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Sack Lake City
> Utah is No. 2 in the nation and leads the Pac-12 in total sacks (15) and sacks per game (5.00).
> Utah's 10 sacks against San Jose State last Saturday is the most in the nation this year for a single game.
> 10 Utes have recorded a sack this season, led by senior defensive Hunter Dimick with three.
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In the Huddle
First-year Ute sophomore punter Mitch Wishnowsky ranks No. 1 nationally in punt average (52.6) … In his first career start and second college game, true freshman Zack Moss rushed for a team-high 95 yards and a touchdown against San Jose State … Other first-time starters against SJSU were sophomore offensive tackle Jackson Barton, junior running back Troy McCormick, redshirt freshman receiver Siaosi Wilson and senior defensive tackle Pasoni Tasini … Filipo Mokofisi, who started at defensive tackle in the first two games, started at right end last week in place of injured Kylie Fitts. Fitts is out for the year and will apply for a medical extension after the season. Mokofisi played both end and tackle against SJSU … Senior Cory Butler-Byrd is No. 1 at slot back on the new depth chart. Butler-Byrd played last week at San Jose State after being suspended for the first two games … Redshirt freshman defensive end Chris Hart saw his first game action late in the SJSU game. Hart, who was injured in preseason camp and missed the first two games, is in this week's two deep at right end … The new kickoff return team is Butler-Byrd and Kenric Young … Eight true freshmen have played: Moss, Bradlee Anae, Julian Blackmon, Terrell Burgess, Leki Fotu, Tyler Huntley, Demari Simpkins and Donavan Thompson.
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Two-Minute Drill
Utah has never played a conference game on a Friday in September. The Utes are 21-11 on Friday in their history … The Utes have sold out 40-straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium since the 2010 season opener, including 37 standing room-only crowds … Utah is 2-0 at home in 2016 with wins over Southern Utah and BYU … In addition to the usual radio lineup for a Utah football game (ESPN700 and SIRIUS/XM), Friday's game will be aired live nationally on Sports USA … Utah trails the overall series with USC 10-4. The Utes are 1-4 in Pac-12 Conference matchups against the Trojans. Utah's Pac-12 win in the series came the last time these two teams met in Salt Lake City in 2014. See page 2 for the complete series history.
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Game Day Activities
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 Friday's game … In honor of the College Football Playoff Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) Week, a representative of the Pac-12 Conference will present a check to a Salt Lake City elementary school … During quarter breaks, the Utah baseball and men's basketball teams will be recognized on the field for their accomplishments last year. Baseball won the 2016 Pac-12 championship (Utah's first Pac-12 championship for a men's sport) and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The 2015-16 men's basketball team reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This year's men's basketball team will also be introduced … The first 200 fans to show the Utah football promotional text (UtahFB to 53535) will receive a rally towel. The Ute Walk begins at 4:30 p.m. on the corner of Guardsman Way and 500 South.
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> No. 24/23 Utah (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. USC (1-2, 0-1 Pac-12)
> Friday, Sept. 23, 7:00 p.m. MT, Rice-Eccles Stadium
> Televised on FS1
> Search #USCvsUTAH for conversation
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Blackout
> Friday is the ninth-annual blackout game in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
> Utah's last home game against USC in 2014—a 24-21 win—was also a blackout game.
> Utah is 6-2 in blackout games, beating TCU (2008), Wyoming (2009), Oregon State (2011), Cal (2012), USC (2014) and Oregon State (2015), and losing to TCU (2010) and UCLA (2013).
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Five Facts
> Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham needs two more victories to reach career win No. 100. Whittingham is 98-46 in his 12th season at the helm.
> Utah has cracked the national rankings for the first time this season. The Utes are No. 24 AP and No. 23 Coaches in this week's polls.
> Utah is off to a 3-0 start for the third-straight season after winning all of its non-conference regular-season games. Utah is 20-1 in non-conference games since joining the Pac-12 Conference in 2011.
> Utah is 1-4 in Pac-12 openers, losing its first conference game of the season from 2011-14 before beating Oregon last year in Eugene, 62-20.
> Last year, Utah was 6-0 and ranked No. 3 in the country (AP) before playing and losing to USC, 42-24, in the Coliseum.
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Sack Lake City
> Utah is No. 2 in the nation and leads the Pac-12 in total sacks (15) and sacks per game (5.00).
> Utah's 10 sacks against San Jose State last Saturday is the most in the nation this year for a single game.
> 10 Utes have recorded a sack this season, led by senior defensive Hunter Dimick with three.
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In the Huddle
First-year Ute sophomore punter Mitch Wishnowsky ranks No. 1 nationally in punt average (52.6) … In his first career start and second college game, true freshman Zack Moss rushed for a team-high 95 yards and a touchdown against San Jose State … Other first-time starters against SJSU were sophomore offensive tackle Jackson Barton, junior running back Troy McCormick, redshirt freshman receiver Siaosi Wilson and senior defensive tackle Pasoni Tasini … Filipo Mokofisi, who started at defensive tackle in the first two games, started at right end last week in place of injured Kylie Fitts. Fitts is out for the year and will apply for a medical extension after the season. Mokofisi played both end and tackle against SJSU … Senior Cory Butler-Byrd is No. 1 at slot back on the new depth chart. Butler-Byrd played last week at San Jose State after being suspended for the first two games … Redshirt freshman defensive end Chris Hart saw his first game action late in the SJSU game. Hart, who was injured in preseason camp and missed the first two games, is in this week's two deep at right end … The new kickoff return team is Butler-Byrd and Kenric Young … Eight true freshmen have played: Moss, Bradlee Anae, Julian Blackmon, Terrell Burgess, Leki Fotu, Tyler Huntley, Demari Simpkins and Donavan Thompson.
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Two-Minute Drill
Utah has never played a conference game on a Friday in September. The Utes are 21-11 on Friday in their history … The Utes have sold out 40-straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium since the 2010 season opener, including 37 standing room-only crowds … Utah is 2-0 at home in 2016 with wins over Southern Utah and BYU … In addition to the usual radio lineup for a Utah football game (ESPN700 and SIRIUS/XM), Friday's game will be aired live nationally on Sports USA … Utah trails the overall series with USC 10-4. The Utes are 1-4 in Pac-12 Conference matchups against the Trojans. Utah's Pac-12 win in the series came the last time these two teams met in Salt Lake City in 2014. See page 2 for the complete series history.
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Game Day Activities
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 Friday's game … In honor of the College Football Playoff Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) Week, a representative of the Pac-12 Conference will present a check to a Salt Lake City elementary school … During quarter breaks, the Utah baseball and men's basketball teams will be recognized on the field for their accomplishments last year. Baseball won the 2016 Pac-12 championship (Utah's first Pac-12 championship for a men's sport) and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The 2015-16 men's basketball team reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This year's men's basketball team will also be introduced … The first 200 fans to show the Utah football promotional text (UtahFB to 53535) will receive a rally towel. The Ute Walk begins at 4:30 p.m. on the corner of Guardsman Way and 500 South.
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Players Mentioned
DE
/ Football
OL
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DB
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WR/DB
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DE
/ Football
DE
/ Football
DE
/ Football
QB
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WR
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RB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DT
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LB
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P
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WR
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