THE GAME
The No. 13/14 University of Utah football program is set to host the No. 17/17 Arizona State Sun Devils in a battle for the top of the South Division on Saturday, Oct. 19. The game is set for a 4 p.m. MT kick in Rice-Eccles Stadium and will air on the Pac-12 Networks. Search #ASUvsUTAH on social media for conversation.
HOME SWEET HOME
Utah is currently 94-35 (.728) all-time in Rice-Eccles Stadium (1998-present). Utah is 66-24 during the Kyle Whittingham era in Salt Lake City, including two undefeated home seasons in 2008 (6-0) and 2009 (6-0). Utah is 3-0 at home this season and has won seven consecutive home games and nine of their last 10 at RES. Â
UTAH vs. THE PAC-12
Utah is 36-40 against Pac-12 teams as a conference member and 112-158-6 all-time against Pac-12 schools.
NUMBERS TALK
•   With a win, the Utes will beat Arizona State for the first time since 2016 (49-26) and win for the first time in Salt Lake City since 2015 (34-18).
•   Utah has had five or more players attempt at least one rush in every game this season, including a season high 10 players against NIU (5 at BYU, 7 vs. Idaho State, 7 at Oregon State, 8 at USC, 9 vs. Washington State, 10 vs. NIU).
•   The Utes are outscoring their opponents 89-29 in the second half this season.
•   Head coach Kyle Whittingham has coached in 312 games for Utah as an assistant and a head coach with 210 career victories. Â
•   Utah is one of three teams that haven't thrown an interception yet. Â
QUICK HITS
•   Utah is ranked 13th in this week's AP poll, up two spots from last week, and 14th in the Coaches poll after Saturday's 52-7 win at Oregon State.
•   Head coach Kyle Whittingham won his 125th career game as a head coach against Oregon State. He is the longest-tenured coach in the Pac-12 Conference and the third-longest tenured head coach at the same school in the NCAA FBS.
•   Utah is one of just six teams in the nation to rank in the top 25 in both total defense (10th) and total offense (25th).
•   The Utes have started the season with a record of 5-1 or better for the fourth time in the past six seasons and the seventh time total in Kyle Whittingham's 15 seasons as a head coach.
•   Utah's 52 points against Oregon State are the most points that Utah has scored in a Pac-12 game since putting up 52 against UCLA in 2016. The 45-point victory margin is the largest margin of victory against a Pac-12 opponent since joining the league. Â
•   Utah is one of just two teams in the FBS this season that has held all of its opponents to under 100 yards rushing each game. Utah ranks second in the FBS and first in the Pac-12 in rushing defense (52.8 ypg).
•   Utah's defense has allowed just 27 second-half points through the first six games (4.5 per game). Utah's opponents have had 29 total possessions in the second half and have scored on just four.
•   The Utes have sold out 60-straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium since the 2010 season opener, including 56 standing room only crowds. The school record for season attendance average is 46,533 (2015) and Utah has averaged more than 46,000 fans per game in four of the past five seasons.
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
•   Utah is tied for third in the NCAA with three defensive touchdowns, and second in the NCAA with three interception return touchdowns.
•   Utah ranks second in the NCAA and leads the Pac-12 in rushing defense (52.8), ranks eighth in the NCAA (2nd Pac-12) in scoring defense (13.2) and 10th in the NCAA (2nd Pac-12) in total defense (271.5).
•   Utah ranks third in the NCAA in sacks allowed (0.67 per game).
•   Utah ranks fifth in the NCAA (2nd Pac-12) in time of possession (34.52).
•   Utah's eight interceptions is tied for 11th in the NCAA and third in the Pac-12.
•   Utah has forced a takeaway in 14 straight games, which is the fifth-longest streak in FBS.
•   Utah ranks third nationally in quarterback completion percentage (.755) and seventh in the NCAA in pass efficiency (183.38).
•   Utah has turned the ball over three times, which is tied for third in the NCAA. The Utes are tied for eighth in the NCAA in turnover margin (1.17 avg.). Utah is one of three teams and the only Power 5 school in the NCAA that have not thrown an interception (Kent State and Georgia Southern are the others).
•   Utah is eleventh in the NCAA and leads the Pac-12 in first downs defense (87).
•   Utah is second in the Pac-12 and 13th in the NCAA in punt return defense (2.00).
•   Utah leads the Pac-12 (21st NCAA) in rushing offense (228.8).
•   Utah leads the Pac-12 (14th NCAA) in third-down conversion percentage defense (0.296).
•   Utah is second in the Pac-12 in passing yards per completion (13.63) and red zone defense (.727).
•   Utah leads the Pac-12 and ranks sixth nationally in weeks ranked in the College Football Playoff Poll, entering 2019 with 24 weeks, trailing only Alabama (31), Clemson (31), Ohio State (31), Oklahoma (29) and LSU (27).
•   Utah is one of just five college football programs whose 2018 attendance represented 100% or higher than capacity of its stadium, claiming the fourth-highest capacity percentage of 101.1%. Nebraska (104.2%), Oklahoma (103.9%) and Michigan (102.9%) were the only schools ahead of Utah, while Georgia (100.0%) rounded out the top five. All three of Utah's games this year have been standing room only with nine schools this year reporting over 100% attendance.
•   The Utes have had three freshmen start on the offensive line this season in Braeden Daniels (LG), Johnny Maea (RG) and Simi Moala (RT). In total, Utah has had 21 freshmen see action this year on offense, defense and on special teams (Donte Banton, Micah Bernard, JaTravis Broughton, Daniels, Luke Felix-Fualalo, Hayden Furey, Cameron Gardner, Semisi Lauaki, Ben Lennon, Aaron Lowe, Maea, Paul Maile, Malone Mataele, Moala, Terrell Perriman, Fua Pututau, Drew Rawls, Jadon Redding, Alphonso Taylor, Jordan Wilmore, Thomas Yassmin).
•   Players changing numbers include Micah Bernard (#34), Bronson Boyd (#8), JaTravis Broughton (#31), Devin Brumfield (#6), Vonte Davis (#22), Nygel King (#16), Malone Mataele (#15) and Simi Moala (#69). Position changes include Jayden Clemons going from quarterback to defensive back and Falcon Kaumatule moving from defensive end to offensive line.
UTAH GAME DAY
•   The clear bag policy will continue to be enforced at Utah athletic events held at Rice-Eccles Stadium and the Huntsman Center this season. Fans can bring in one unfrozen factory-sealed bottle of water per person (1 liter or less) or an empty non-glass water bottle.
•   Fans can purchase unique experiences, including pregame and in-game sideline access, tailgate experiences, coin-toss participation, autographed memorabilia and the opportunity to lead the team out of the tunnel with the flag. To learn more about the game-day experiences please visit utahutes.com/experiences.
•   Fans can purchase tailgating experiences from Tailgate Guys at tailgateguys.com/university-of-utah.
•   Child care is available for fans provided by the Crimson Kids program through University's Center for Child Care and Family Resources. Visit childcare.utah.edu for more info.
•   The Ute Walk begins two-and-a-half hours before kickoff at the corner of Guardsman Way and 500 South. Fans are invited to cheer on the Utes as they make their walk into Rice-Eccles Stadium, sponsored by doTERRA.
•   The cannon will blast at a new time, 45 minutes before kickoff, alerting fans to begin their transition into the stadium.
•   Smoking sections located around the perimeter of the stadium on game days will no longer be present as part of the University's Tobacco Free efforts.
PAC-12 ZERO WASTE CHALLENGE
The University of Utah is participating in the second annual Green to Red Tailgate on Oct. 19. Fans can make their tailgates more sustainable and win an on-field experience in the 2020 season. Student volunteers will evaluate tailgates based on waste and recyling, transportation, energy, food purchases, and innovation. Learn more at Pac-12.com.