Football Continues Pac-12 Play at Stanford

Saturday, October 6

Stanford, CA

8:30 PM

University of Utah

Stanford

10/1/2018 11:19 AM | Football

Game Notes Press Conference Quotes

The Game
Utah (2-2, 0-2 Pac-12) visits No. 14 Stanford (4-1, 2-0 Pac-12) on Saturday, Oct. 6 in Stanford, Calif. Kickoff at Stanford Stadium is 7:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. MT on ESPN. Search #UTAHvsSTAN for conversation.

Quick Hits
> Utah is in the top five nationally and leads the Pac-12 in total defense, rushing defense, red zone defense and first down defense. See pages 2-3 for complete Utah rankings.
> The Utes, who are facing their third-straight Pac-12 North opponent in Stanford, are 0-2 against the North with losses to Washington and Washington State.
> Utah will open South division play with back-to-back home games against Arizona (Oct. 12) and USC (Oct. 20).
> Utah is 1-1 on the road this season with a win at Northern Illinois and a loss at WSU.
> Utah had won three straight games against the Cardinal before Stanford evened the overall series at 4-4 with a 23-20 win last season. It was Utah's first loss to the Cardinal as a member of the Pac-12 Conference.
> Utah is 3-0 in Stanford Stadium.
> Utah's 27-21 win over No. 5 Stanford in 2013 in Salt Lake City is the only home win by either team in the series. Stanford won the only neutral game of the series. See page 2 for complete series history.
> In his 14th year at Utah, Kyle Whittingham is the longest-tenured head coach in the Pac-12 Conference and the third-longest tenured coach at the same school in the nation (NCAA FBS).
> Whittingham is 113-58 in 14 seasons as Utah's head coach and is in his 25th overall season on the Utah coaching staff.

Statchat
> Utah is No. 2 in the nation (No. 1 Pac-12) in first down defense (57).
> Utah is No. 3 in the nation (No. 1 Pac-12) in rushing defense (83.8).
> Utah is No. 5 in the nation (No. 1 Pac-12) in total defense (264.8).
> Utah is No. 5 in the nation (No. 1/T Pac-12) in red zone defense (0.667, 6-of-9).
> Utah is No. 8 in the nation (No. 3 Pac-12) in net punting (42.63).
> Utah is No. 1 in the Pac-12 in pass efficiency defense (100.75).
> Utah leads the Pac-12 in fewest penalties (25, tie) and ranks third in fewest penalty yards (211).
> Utah is No. 2 in the Pac-12 (No. 14 nationally) in scoring defense (16.3).
> Utah is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in pass defense (181.0).
> Utah is No. 2 in the Pac-12 in opponent third-down conversion percentage (31.7).
> Utah is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in pass defense (181.0).
> Utah is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in tackles for loss (7.5).
> Utah is No. 2 in the Pac-12 in fewest passes intercepted (2, tie).
See sidebar on page 3 for more Utah rankings.

In the Huddle
Sixteen players have started every game: offensive linemen Jackson Barton, Lo Falemaka and Jordan Agasiva, quarterback Tyler Huntley, running back Zack Moss, receiver Demari Simpkins, tight end Jake Jackson, defensive linemen Bradlee Anae, Pita Tonga and Mika Tafua, linebackers Cody Barton and Chase Hansen, and defensive backs Jaylon Johnson, Julian Blackmon, Corrion Ballard and Marquise Blair … Nine others have started at least one game, including true freshman tight end Cole Fotheringham and redshirt freshman receiver Bronson Boyd … Eight true freshmen have played: Fotheringham, Devin Brumfield, Braeden E. Daniels, Solomon Enis, Maddie Golden, R.J. Hubert, Brant Kuithe and Malone Mataele … Utah has one Pac-12 Player of the Week award this season (Chase Hansen, Sept. 10, NIU) … A complete list of Utah players on national award watch lists can be found on page 10 of this release … Utah has 41 players of Polynesian descent on its roster.

Two Minute Drill
Utah is 14-14 all-time in games televised by ESPN. The Utes will play on ESPN at least four times this season (Washington Sept. 15, Stanford Oct. 6, Arizona Oct. 12 and UCLA Oct. 26) … Opponents are averaging just 2.6 yards per rush … Opponents have scored just two touchdowns in the second half, totaling seven points in the third quarter and 10 points in the fourth … Utah's best offensive quarter is the first (28 points).