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Photo by: Rob Gray
#16 Utah Takes Bye Week, Prepares for ASU
10/31/2016 11:29 AM | Football
Next Week's Game
> No. 16 Utah (7-2, 4-2 Pac-12) vs. Arizona State (5-4, 2-4 Pac-12)
> Thursday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m. MDT, Tempe, Ariz.
> Televised on FS1
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Utah in the Rankings
> After a close (31-24) loss to No. 4 Washington, the Utes improved one place in the AP poll and held steady in the Coaches' poll from the previous week. Utah is currently ranked No. 16 in both polls. See pages 16-18 for Utah's history in the national rankings.
> This is Utah's seventh-straight week in the top 25. The Utes broke in at No. 24 AP/No. 23 Coaches on Sept. 18. Utah's current No. 16 AP ranking is its season best (equaling last week's Coaches' ranking).
> Utah is 71-19 all-time when ranked in the AP poll and 18-8 since joining the Pac-12 Conference in 2011.
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Five Facts
> Utah is tied for second in the Pac-12 South Division with USC, both with 4-2 league records. One of USC's losses was to the Utes.
> Utah is 3-0 against South Division teams and 1-2 against the North Division.
> Utah leads the nation in three categories: takeaways (23), interceptions (15, tied) and net punting (45.05).
> A ranked Utah team has played Arizona State just twice previously, with the No.18 Utes losing to No. 15 ASU in 2014 and No. 4 Utah beating the unranked Sun Devils in 2015.
> The rash of injuries that has hit the Utes this season has resulted in 40 different players starting in a game—22 on offense and 18 on defense. See 'Injury Count' for more.
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Statchat
> Utah ranks No. 1 in the nation in takeaways with 23 (15 INT, 8 FR).
> Utah ranks No. 1 (tied) in the nation and leads the Pac-12 in interceptions (15).
> Utah ranks No. 1 in the nation in net punting (45.05).
> Utah ranks No. 2 in the nation in time of possession (35:34).
> Utah is No. 1 in the Pac-12 (tied) in opponent fourth-down conversion percentage (.375, 3-for-8).
> Utah is No. 2 in the Pac-12 in fourth down conversion percentage (.667, 10-of-15).
> Utah is tied for No. 2 in the Pac-12 in field goals (14).
> Utah is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in rushing defense (128.4).
> Utah is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in fumbles recovered (8).
> Utah is tied for No. 3 in the Pac-12 in first downs (203).
> See sidebar on page 3 for complete Utah rankings
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In the Huddle
Junior first-team all-conference free safety Marcus Williams is expected to return to the starting lineup when Utah plays Arizona State on Nov. 10. Williams has missed the last two games with an injury … Center Lo Falemaka came off a three-game injury absence to play on special teams against Washington last week. He'll be available at center for the ASU game … Anticipated to come off the disabled list after missing the last three games is tight end Harrison Handley … Right guard Sam Tevi, who was injured on the fourth play of the Washington game on Oct. 29, is on the projected depth chart for ASU … Two of Utah's three injured running backs (true freshman Zack Moss and junior Troy McCormick Jr.) both returned to the sidelines against Washington and Moss saw action. Sophomore Armand Shyne is out for the season … Nine true freshmen have played: Moss, Julian Blackmon, Demari Simpkins, Bradlee Anae, Terrell Burgess, Leki Fotu, Tyler Huntley, Donavan Thompson and Devonta'e Henry-Cole.
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Two-Minute Drill
Utah assistant head coach/running backs coach Dennis Erickson was the head coach at ASU from 2007-11, where he was the Pac-10 Coach of the Year in his first season … Utah earned its first win against ASU since 1976 last year in Salt Lake City. See page 2 for complete series notes … Utah is 3-1 on the road, with wins over San Jose State, Oregon State and UCLA, and a loss at California … Utah won all three games in 2014 and 2015 coming off bye weeks. In 2014, Utah beat Michigan and Oregon State following bye weeks and last year, the Utes beat No. 23 California after a bye. Prior to joining the Pac-12 Conference, Kyle Whittingham was undefeated after byes as Utah's head coach. His career record following a bye now stands at 9-4 … The Utes have sold out 43 straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium since the 2010 season opener. Of those sellouts, 40 have been standing room-only crowds. See 'Standing Ovation' for more … 300 tickets returned by Oregon have gone on sale to Utah fans. Call 801-581-UTIX or go to UtahTickets.com to purchase.
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Outside the Lines
There is no Kyle Whittingham radio show this week due to the bye. The next coach's show will be on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN700. The show will be broadcast live from the Desert Edge Brewery at Trolley Square and is free to the public … Next week, use the hashtag #UTAHvsASU to follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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> No. 16 Utah (7-2, 4-2 Pac-12) vs. Arizona State (5-4, 2-4 Pac-12)
> Thursday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m. MDT, Tempe, Ariz.
> Televised on FS1
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Utah in the Rankings
> After a close (31-24) loss to No. 4 Washington, the Utes improved one place in the AP poll and held steady in the Coaches' poll from the previous week. Utah is currently ranked No. 16 in both polls. See pages 16-18 for Utah's history in the national rankings.
> This is Utah's seventh-straight week in the top 25. The Utes broke in at No. 24 AP/No. 23 Coaches on Sept. 18. Utah's current No. 16 AP ranking is its season best (equaling last week's Coaches' ranking).
> Utah is 71-19 all-time when ranked in the AP poll and 18-8 since joining the Pac-12 Conference in 2011.
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Five Facts
> Utah is tied for second in the Pac-12 South Division with USC, both with 4-2 league records. One of USC's losses was to the Utes.
> Utah is 3-0 against South Division teams and 1-2 against the North Division.
> Utah leads the nation in three categories: takeaways (23), interceptions (15, tied) and net punting (45.05).
> A ranked Utah team has played Arizona State just twice previously, with the No.18 Utes losing to No. 15 ASU in 2014 and No. 4 Utah beating the unranked Sun Devils in 2015.
> The rash of injuries that has hit the Utes this season has resulted in 40 different players starting in a game—22 on offense and 18 on defense. See 'Injury Count' for more.
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Statchat
> Utah ranks No. 1 in the nation in takeaways with 23 (15 INT, 8 FR).
> Utah ranks No. 1 (tied) in the nation and leads the Pac-12 in interceptions (15).
> Utah ranks No. 1 in the nation in net punting (45.05).
> Utah ranks No. 2 in the nation in time of possession (35:34).
> Utah is No. 1 in the Pac-12 (tied) in opponent fourth-down conversion percentage (.375, 3-for-8).
> Utah is No. 2 in the Pac-12 in fourth down conversion percentage (.667, 10-of-15).
> Utah is tied for No. 2 in the Pac-12 in field goals (14).
> Utah is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in rushing defense (128.4).
> Utah is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in fumbles recovered (8).
> Utah is tied for No. 3 in the Pac-12 in first downs (203).
> See sidebar on page 3 for complete Utah rankings
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In the Huddle
Junior first-team all-conference free safety Marcus Williams is expected to return to the starting lineup when Utah plays Arizona State on Nov. 10. Williams has missed the last two games with an injury … Center Lo Falemaka came off a three-game injury absence to play on special teams against Washington last week. He'll be available at center for the ASU game … Anticipated to come off the disabled list after missing the last three games is tight end Harrison Handley … Right guard Sam Tevi, who was injured on the fourth play of the Washington game on Oct. 29, is on the projected depth chart for ASU … Two of Utah's three injured running backs (true freshman Zack Moss and junior Troy McCormick Jr.) both returned to the sidelines against Washington and Moss saw action. Sophomore Armand Shyne is out for the season … Nine true freshmen have played: Moss, Julian Blackmon, Demari Simpkins, Bradlee Anae, Terrell Burgess, Leki Fotu, Tyler Huntley, Donavan Thompson and Devonta'e Henry-Cole.
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Two-Minute Drill
Utah assistant head coach/running backs coach Dennis Erickson was the head coach at ASU from 2007-11, where he was the Pac-10 Coach of the Year in his first season … Utah earned its first win against ASU since 1976 last year in Salt Lake City. See page 2 for complete series notes … Utah is 3-1 on the road, with wins over San Jose State, Oregon State and UCLA, and a loss at California … Utah won all three games in 2014 and 2015 coming off bye weeks. In 2014, Utah beat Michigan and Oregon State following bye weeks and last year, the Utes beat No. 23 California after a bye. Prior to joining the Pac-12 Conference, Kyle Whittingham was undefeated after byes as Utah's head coach. His career record following a bye now stands at 9-4 … The Utes have sold out 43 straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium since the 2010 season opener. Of those sellouts, 40 have been standing room-only crowds. See 'Standing Ovation' for more … 300 tickets returned by Oregon have gone on sale to Utah fans. Call 801-581-UTIX or go to UtahTickets.com to purchase.
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Outside the Lines
There is no Kyle Whittingham radio show this week due to the bye. The next coach's show will be on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN700. The show will be broadcast live from the Desert Edge Brewery at Trolley Square and is free to the public … Next week, use the hashtag #UTAHvsASU to follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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Sunday, September 14
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Keith Kelley, voice of the Wyoming Cowboys
Tuesday, September 09
Ute greats Ron McBride and Roy Jefferson Ring of Honor Induction
Monday, September 08
Utah: 63, Cal Poly: 9 | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
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