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SALT LAKE CITY — As coaches always say, "The best part about being 2-0 is the chance to go 3-0."
For the Utes, being 2-0, their best start since 2010, doesn't mean much considering the real season gets underway this Saturday as they kick of Pac-12 play hosting Oregon State.
The Utes and Beavers, although in different divisions in the conference, have developed quite a rivalry over the past few seasons.
Here are ten things you need to know to impress your friends in the tailgate lot as we count you down to kickoff:
- Utah (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12) hosts Oregon State (1-1, 0-0 Pac-12) in Homecoming on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. MDT in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Pac-12 opener for both teams will be televised nationally on FOX Sports 1. Radio is ESPN700 AM, Sirius 139 and XM 198.
- Over the last 114 games, Oregon State is 43-9 when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent, 11-31 when committing more and 11-9 when even.
- Utah (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. Oregon State (1-1, 0-0 Pac-12)
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013
- Time: 8:00 p.m. MDT
- Site: Rice-Eccles Stadium (45,017/FieldTurf)
- TV: FOX Sports 1
- Radio: ESPN700, Sirius 139/XM 198
- Series Record: OSU leads 10-6-1
- Last Meeting: 2012 (OSU 21-7)
- Kickoff Weather: Partly cloudy; temps near 75
Utah trails the series 6-10-1, with four of its wins coming in the last six games. Utah's first Pac-12 win came against the Beavers in 2011 — 27-8 in Salt Lake City, where the teams are tied 4-4. Utah has won the last three home games (1992, 2008 and 2011).
- For the first time since 1970, Utah is playing three-straight home games to start the season. Its also the earliest homecoming game in Utah history. Utah is 57-31-4 all-time in homecoming games and 11-10-1 against Pac-12 schools (0-0 vs. Oregon State).
- 72-9: That's the record of Oregon State when it leads after three quarters with Mike Riley as head coach. Since the start of the 2004 season it is 53-5.
- Utah has had 20-straight sellouts in Rice-Eccles Stadium extending back to the season-opener against Pittsburgh in 2010. Of the sellouts, 18 were played before standing-room only crowds that exceeded Rice-Eccles Stadium's 45,017-seat capacity.
- When a Beaver rushes for 100-plus yards it usually equals a victory. OSU has won 26 of its last 31 games (84%) when a rusher gains 100 - the only five losses in that period - Oct. 2, 2008 at Utah (Jacquizz Rodgers 101 yds), Oct. 24, 2009 at USC (Jacquizz 113), Oct. 16, 2010 at Washington (Jacquizz 140), Sept. 3, 2011 vs. Sacramento State (Malcolm Agnew 223) and Dec. 29, 2012 vs. Texas (Storm Woods 118).
- Utah quarterback Travis Wilson ranks third in the nation in yards per completion (18.26) and eighth in passing efficiency (202.2). He ranks first and fourth, respectively, in the Pac-12 Conference. Other top-25 NCAA rankings for Wilson are in total offense per game (16th, 334.0), points responsible for (18th, 30 points) and passing yards per game (23rd, 283.0). He is in the upper half of the Pac-12 in all of the above categories.
- Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion has completed 68-of-86 passes for 794 yards in the Beavers first two games - a completion percentage of 79. His four touchdown passes against Hawaii gave him 38 for his career, tying him with Sean Canfield for the fourth-most by an OSU quarterback.
- Utah has had a 100-yard receiver in both games: Anthony Denham (113 vs. Utah State) and Dres Anderson (103 vs. Weber State). Keep in mind, last season Anderson lead the Utes with just 365 yards — for the entire year.
- While the Utes are favored in Saturday's matchup (-2.5 to -3 according to where you look), Oregon State is 18-8-1 against the spread in their last 27 road games.
