Utah finished its nonconference schedule with a 3-0 record after beating San Jose State on the road, 34-17. And for the first time this season, the Utes are ranked.
They are No. 24 in the AP Poll and No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Utes registered a total of 10 sacks against San Jose State, and they have an overall total of 15 sacks through the first three games of the season. However, head coach Kyle Whittingham doesn’t think the team is where it needs to be quite yet.
Whittingham needs his team to be more consistent, and he needs all parts of the team to be in sync. Another interception in the endzone was exactly ideal, so the Utes will be looking to clean up that sort of play ahead of going against USC.
“I feel like I’m starting to settle in for the most part,” said junior quarterback Troy Williams. “Just more game reps and being out there in that game situation will help me a lot. I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable being out there on that stage.”
While USC has a losing record of 1-2, the Trojans lost their season opener to Alabama and then dropped their first Pac-12 game to Stanford, the Utes aren’t paying any attention to that. Utah considers USC one of the stiffest teams in the nation, regardless of its wins or losses.
“We’ve got to be at our best,” Whittingham said. “They’re a talented team, probably the most talented 1-2 team in the country. They’re very dangerous, and they got a lot of weapons. It’ll be a big challenge for our football team.”
Running back update
No Joe Williams, no problem. The Utah running back core did its part of readying itself for the San Jose State game, and it looks like the Utes won’t have any problem finding someone to fill in the hole Joe Williams left after announcing his retirement last week.
Zack Moss rushed for 95 yards on 12 carries, and Armand Shyne rushed for 92 yards on 12 carries. Troy McCormick followed with seven carries for 61 yards for a total of 248 rushing yards, but Whittingham still doesn’t think Moss is at full strength, and there’s room for him to improve.
“We’re still not where we need to be to be the type of team we want to be, but we’re a lot closer than we were in game one,” Whittingham said. “It’s good to see those running backs all contributing.”
USC ties to Utah
The Utes will be facing a familiar face on the USC defensive line as former Ute Stevie Tu’ikolovatu will be lining up against them.
Tu’ikolovatu left the Utes following the 2015 season after deciding he would not receive the amount of playing time he would like. At USC, though, he was named a starter. Whittingham said Tu’ikolovatu left on good terms with the Utah program, and although he mentioned he would have rather seen him play elsewhere instead of a fellow Pac-12 team earlier in the season, it doesn’t affect the team’s game plan.
“We’re just worried about our own guys,” Whittingham said.
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