Utah has become state's dominant football program


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SALT LAKE CITY — Even the old-timers can't argue it now, that Utah has the best college football program in the Beehive State.

Having gone from the metaphoric ashes some 30 years ago to the literal riches of today, the Utes have soared to previously unthinkable heights. Meanwhile, the kings of yesteryear, the BYU Cougars, continue to strive for the national relevance that Utah currently has achieved.

The rivalry has done a complete turnabout, undergoing a surprising reversal from the era when BYU dominated to the tune of winning 19 out of 21 games. Now it's all about the Utes, who have won four consecutive games and nine out of the last 12.

At this time, national pundits are pushing the four-team playoff as a landing spot for Utah. BYU's postseason destination, even if it's not fair, is almost assuredly either Las Vegas or Hawaii.

And as we know, Utah has found a permanent home in a Power 5 conference. BYU continues to rent space as a football independent, awaiting a deserved invitation to a power conference.

The Utes have experienced gaudy levels before, going undefeated as the original BCS-buster in 2004 and following it up with another perfect season in 2008 that ended with a No. 2 national ranking. Even the ESPN "College GameDay" show, which will broadcast from the university this week, has done college football's best program on the Utah campus before.

But this time it is so much different, so much better. Membership has its privileges.

As part of the Mountain West Conference, the Utes always had to justify their program, even in the two perfect seasons. Now, by virtue of its Pac-12 affiliation, Utah only needed victories over Michigan and Oregon to vault to a No. 5 national ranking.

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There was a time, back when Utah coach Kyle Whittingham was an all-WAC linebacker for BYU, football in the intermountain region was all about the Cougars. Utah was barely more than a joke of a program.

In current times, Utah's biggest challenge going into this week's game against No. 23 California is ignoring all the hype that is surrounding the program. Some of the national talk about the Utes centers on if they should get more respect, to the point of being ranked No. 1.

Whittingham compared all the attention to "almost like living in a biosphere or dome... You've got people tapping on the glass, looking at you, and you've got to block it out," he said.

Yes, even if it crashes later this season, the Utes have exceeded their dreams. One season removed from two consecutive losing seasons, and with coaching careers in jeopardy, Utah suddenly is concerned about managing expectations.

Everywhere they go, the Utes are getting back-slapped.


If you want to be a good team you've got to handle the success that you've had and the attention that's being placed on your program. That's part of the deal. You've got to be able to block out the noise.

–Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham


"If you want to be a good team you've got to handle the success that you've had and the attention that's being placed on your program," Whittingham said. "That's part of the deal. You've got to be able to block out the noise."

Two years ago, the only noise came from a dissatisfied fan based that was divided on the idea Whittingham could make the program competitive in the Pac-12. Three years into the conference Utah's inadequate quarterback play came from a combination of repeatedly injured scholarship players and walk-ons. Even last season, when the Utes rebounded to go 9-4, the quarterback play remained unsettled and substantially subpar.

This season the four-year investment in Travis Wilson is paying off. With play-caller Aaron Roderick believing in him, Wilson has flourished as a senior to the point of being ESPN's top-rated quarterback.

"Travis Wilson has been outstanding, particularly in the last ball game (against Oregon)," said Whittingham, who also has been pleased with two question marks — the secondary and receivers — going into the season.

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