#23 Utah Visits #13 USC in Primetime

Saturday, October 14

Los Angeles, Calif.

6:00 PM

University of Utah

USC

Buy Tickets

10/9/2017 11:26 AM | Football

Game Notes Press Conference Quotes

The Game
No. 23 Utah (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) will play No. 13 USC (5-1, 3-1 Pac-12) in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. Pacific time (6 p.m. MT). The game will be televised on ABC primetime. Search #UTAHvsUSC for conversation.

Utah in the Polls
> Utah is ranked No. 23 in the Coaches poll this week and dropped out of the AP poll after last week's 23-20 loss to Stanford. The Utes, who had climbed to No. 18 in the Coaches poll and No. 20 AP, have appeared in the Coaches poll every week this season.
> Against AP ranked opponents, Utah is 6-11 as a member of the Pac-12, 19-22 since 1994 and 21-61 all-time.

Quick Hits
> Saturday's game marks Utah's debut appearance on ABC primetime. Saturday Night Football on ABC premiered in 2006.
> Utah is 14-2-1 all-time in ABC-televised games.
> Utah is 2-4 against USC since joining the Pac-12 and 5-10 all-time. The Utes have won two of the last three contests (2014, 2016).
> Utah, 1-7 against the Trojans on the road, is looking for its first win in the Coliseum, where the Utes are 0-5. Utah's lone road win over USC dates back more than a century to 1916 in Fiesta Park—one of eight home sites for the Trojans before they moved to the Coliseum in 1923.
> Ute senior quarterback Troy Williams was the only quarterback to defeat USC's Sam Darnold last season. Williams, 9-4 as the starter in 2016, is 0-1 this year.
> Utah's game against Arizona State on Oct. 21 will kick off at either 1:30 or 2 p.m. MT in Rice-Eccles Stadium on either FOX or FS1. The game time and TV will be finalized early Sunday.

Statchat
> Utah leads the nation in field goals made (16).
> Utah leads the nation in net punting (44.75).
> Utah leads the Pac-12 and is third in the nation in punt return defense (-1.00).
> Utah leads the Pac-12 and ranks seventh in the nation in pass efficiency defense (99.6).
> Utah leads the Pac-12 and is tied for 13th in the nation in fewest opponent first downs (79).
> Utah leads the Pac-12 and ranks 17th in the nation in time of possession (33.09).
> Utah is tied for the Pac-12 lead and is tied for sixth in the nation in interceptions (9).
> Utah ranks second in the Pac-12 and 22nd in the nation in scoring defense (18.4).
> Utah ranks third in the Pac-12 and 20th in the nation in rushing defense (108.8).
> Utah ranks third in the Pac-12 and 21st in the nation in total defense (314.0).
> Utah ranks third in the Pac-12 in pass defense (205.2).
> Utah ranks third in the Pac-12 and is tied for seventh in the nation in turnovers gained with 14 (9 INT, 5 FR).
> Utah is tied for third in the Pac-12 and tied for 17th in the nation in passes defended (30).
> Utah is tied for third in the Pac-12 in fewest sacks allowed (8.0).
> Utah ranks fourth in the Pac-12 and 11th in the nation in punt return average (15.75).
See sidebar on page 3 for more Utah rankings.

#MattGfor3
In his first season of college football, junior Matt Gay is the nation's leading field goal kicker, ranking No. 1 in field goals made (16), field goals per game (3.20) and total points (64, tied). He is second in the nation overall in points per game (12.8). Gay leads the Pac-12 in field goal percentage (.941, 16-of-17), with his lone miss from 50 yards. He has two field goals from 50+yards and his 56-yarder against San Jose State is tied for the longest field goal in the nation this season. He is perfect in extra points (16-of-16). Gay's only previous football experience came as a high school senior at Orem High (Utah) in 2011. He played soccer at Utah Valley in 2014 and 2016 before walking on to the Utah football team in August. Gay replaced four-year starter and school record-holder Andy Phillips, a former U.S. Ski Team member who also came to the U. with no previous college football experience. See Kicking Notebook for more on Gay.

In the Huddle
Junior college transfers Marquise Blair and Corrion Ballard have traded positions on the depth chart. Blair is now No. 1 at free safety with Ballard backing up at strong safety. Ballard started the first five games—four at free safety and last week as a third safety. Blair's only previous start was at strong safety vs. San Jose State … True freshman Javelin Guidry has moved ahead of senior Boobie Hobbs at nickel back. Guidry got his first career start last week vs. Stanford … The snapping duties are now divvied up between Harrison Handley (long snapper) and Alex Whittingham (short snapper) … Hayes Hicken has replaced Chayden Johnston as the backup placekicker … Starting kicker Matt Gay, who was awarded a scholarship last week, has received an additional year of eligibility through a clock extension related to his LDS church mission. His clock now runs through next season … Utah started in its "muscle" package against Stanford with four defensive tackles (Lowell Lotulelei, Filipo Mokofisi, John Penisini and Leki Fotu) and no ends. It was the first career start for Penisini and Fotu … Seven true freshmen have played: Guidry, Tyquez Hampton, Jaylon Johnson, Johnston; Ali'i Niumatalolo, Bryan Thompson and Orlando Umana … Utah's roster contains 32 players of Polynesian descent.

Two-Minute Drill
Utah has 31 players on its roster from California. Twenty-four are from Southern California, including starting wide receiver Darren Carrington II (San Diego), defensive end Kylie Fitts (San Bernardino), quarterback Troy Williams (Carson) and wide receiver Siaosi Wilson (Tustin) … The Utes are 2-0 on the road with wins at BYU and Arizona … Its loss to Stanford last week snapped Utah's four-game win streak following bye weeks … Utah's highest scoring quarter is the second (50 points). Utah's best defensive quarter is the first when opponents have scored just 12 points … Utah has scored 16 touchdowns to nine by opponents.