SALT LAKE CITY — No. 4 Washington meets No. 17 Utah in a highly anticipated matchup at Rice-Eccles Stadium Saturday.

“This will be the toughest test so far,” said Washington head coach Chris Petersen.

The undefeated Huskies haven’t been to Salt Lake City since 2011 when they beat the Utes 31-14. This will be just the second time the two teams have played in Salt Lake City. Washington holds the series lead 8-1.

“Their fans will be excited,” Petersen said.

Utah (7-1, 4-1 Pac-12) has sold out 42 consecutive games, dating back to the 2010 season opener.

Adding ESPN’s “College GameDay” to this week’s game will bring more fans to campus.

“Whether ‘GameDay’ came or not, there’s going to be really good energy in that stadium. This pours a little more energy into the stadium,” said Petersen. "It's a really great environment to play in."

The biggest storyline of Saturday’s game is Utah quarterback Troy Williams facing his former team for the first time since his transfer from Washington. Williams has been looking forward to this game since he came to Utah, as has his former teammate, Washington receiver John Ross.

“We’re like brothers,” said Ross. “We were roommates when we got here and I knew him before we got here. We’ve always been around each other. To see him happy right now and doing his thing, I’m proud of him.”

While Washington (7-0 ,4-0) is on a 10-game win streak, Utah has been hot with its run game. Running back Joe Williams returned to the team after a 27-day retirement, rescuing the Utes — whose depth at running back has been diminished by injuries — last week against UCLA by rushing for a school-record and nation’s season-best 332 yards and four touchdowns.

Related:

Washington game ‘everything I dreamed about,’ Troy Williams says

On Jan. 5, 2015, quarterback Troy Williams began a two-year pursuit to prove his former school Washington that he was worth investing in.

“He’s pretty explosive coming out of that backfield,” said Washington linebacker Keishawn Bierria.

Had he played in the NCAA minimum 75 percent of all games, Williams would rank second in the nation and first in the Pac-12 in rushing yards per game with 146.5 yards.

“We’ve got to do a good job of keeping him in the chute and not giving up the long ball, whether it’s in the run game or in the passing game,” said Washington defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski.

“They’re just executing at a high level and the running back’s doing a good job finding space. If someone’s not there making the tackle, he’s taking it to the house,” Kwiatkowski added.

As for the Huskies, their offense is one of the best in the nation, scoring at least 35 points per game. However, Utah’s defense allows an average of 21.6 points per game, ranking fourth in the league.

“They create a lot of one-on-one matchups and they have some skill players back there who have been great at getting the ball,” Washington offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith said of Utah’s defense.

The Utes’ 22 takeaways lead the nation and the Huskies have taken notice.

“They do a lot of things we haven’t seen from other corners this year, technically and the way they play their coverage,” said Ross.

“There’s no question. We have to be really, really good with the ball. They’re a talented group and they’re a physical group. They’re a good defense,” added Smith.

“I think it’s going to be fun,” added Ross.

Saturday’s showdown is scheduled to kick off at 1:30 p.m. (MDT) and will be televised on Fox Sports 1.

Prior to Saturday's game, ESPN's “College GameDay” will broadcast from President’s Circle on the University of Utah campus beginning at 7 a.m.

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