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SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah's first game in the Pac-12 didn't end as they hoped or expected. It didn't actually end the way that anyone expected.
With 11 seconds left Utah's field goal unit was rushing onto the field with the Utes down by three. With no time left the field goal was blocked and the Trojan's walked away the victors 17-14. Two hours later the final score was changed to 23-14 to reflect the USC touchdown scored on the blocked kick.
In a game that was closer than most expected the story of the game came hours after the game. Across the nation the question wasn't about whether USC was that much better or if Utah gave the game away, it was about the ruling off the field.
Everyone in Pac-12 country is looking at the ending and very little of the game is talked about. The LA Times,Seattle Times and Fox Sports Arizona focused directly on the ending, and ESPN Pac-12 blogger Ted Miller wrote several posts on it. SB Nation LA wrote an article "Great Moments in Gambling History."
The Pac-12 explained the change, er, clarification of the score with this statement:
"There was a miscommunication between the officials and the press box that led to the confusion about the final score."
But that didn't do much to settle the controversy in Las Vegas where according to the LA Times, "sports books invoked "house rules" to determine whether they would pay on one score or the other — or both."
One of the few stories to recognize the Utes ability and not the end was on the Trojans' own website.
The fact that no one is talking about the actual game may be a testament to where Utah is considered in the conference. ESPN's Pac-12 blog and Athlon Sports have the Utes ranked seventh in the conference, while Fox Sports has them as the fifth best team. While they did lose game one in the conference they still control their own destiny to go to the conference title game.
The question that most have is whether Jordan Wynn can actually be the player the Utes need him to be. Miller wrote that Wynn is the only quarterback in the Pac-12 outside of the top-60 in passing efficiency. If Wynn can get over his shoulder injury this team could sneak into the top of the conference picture.
While there may be questions as to where the Utes fit the game on Saturday showed that the Utes will be in games in the conference.
With the lack of talk the Utes are getting for their play they must impress in this week's "Holy War" to get some publicity for this team. The annual game against BYU has already received publicity nationally from the Associated Press. If the Utes are going to be taken seriously as a team they have to go into Provo and put on a show.
If the Utes can leave LaVell Edwards Stadium with a victory they will get recognition for the right reasons and not due to a wacky betting line.
Email: onlinesports@ksl.com
