SALT LAKE CITY — Kyle Whittingham is not a man given to grand platitudes or hyperbole. He's always been more of a coach to downplay a good performance.

So when he told me this summer that this year's football team was the most talented team he's coached, it caught my attention. I knew this Utah football team could and should be very talented, and perhaps challenge for the Pac-12 South title, but to hear Whittingham's words and see the smile that came across his face when he said them told me something.

Perhaps this team could be pretty special.

I've had a front row, or at least front row broadcast booth view, for all seven Utah games this season; and while it may have taken a little more than a minute to get here, it appears that Whittingham's words from this summer are beginning to ring true.

This is the most talented team he's had in his 14 seasons as head coach at Utah. Saturday night, we saw it all on full display for a third consecutive week. All three phases hitting, all the right notes — well perhaps special teams not quite so much with the botched punt and blocked punt.

Whittingham and his staff have this team dialed in and playing their best stretch of football against Pac-12 opponents since joining the league. The 40+ points in three-straight games is the first such effort since 2010 when Utah put up 56, 56 and 68 in three straight outing. But that was against New Mexico, San Jose State and Iowa State — not exactly USC or Stanford.

Utah is now in the drivers seat in the Pac-12 South with a 3-2 conference record and the win over USC. But there is very little margin for error and winning out is likely what it will take to win their first division title.

The way the Utes are playing right now, the only thing that will keep them from winning the South is themselves, and that's a good spot to be in if you are Whittingham.

Utah's defense is elite

Some things never change: death, taxes and Utah having a very good defense. This year is no exception. But instead of a very good defense, this year's defense is elite. Two things stand out about this particular unit: the speed and physicality; and it was all on full display Saturday night.

When Utah first joined the Pac-12, they had no trouble at all matching or even exceeding the physical play at the line of scrimmage. What Utah lacked initially, though, was the speed at linebacker and in the secondary to keep up with offenses. That is no longer the case as Utah's defensive speed is on par with just about anyone in college football.

Two major factors this year in taking Utah from very good to elite.

1. Linebacker play - Chase Hansen and Cody Barton have elevated the play of their position group. Their ability to move sideline to sideline has been missing from Utah the last couple of seasons.

2. The maturation of the secondary - A year ago, Utah played a sophomore and two true freshmen at the corner spots. They were good but lacked experience. This year, the three J's (Javelin Guidry, Julian Blackmon and Jaylon Johnson) have taken the next step. Utah's pass efficiency defense leads the Pac-12 and is ranked in the Top 15 in the NCAA.

Tyler Huntley

I think this will be the third straight week that I have written this, but Tyler Huntley played his best game as a Ute. Considering the importance of the game and who it was against, Huntley's game went to another level.

Saturday night against a very talented and athletic USC defense, Huntley's numbers were off the charts: 22-of-29 passing for 341 yards (which tied his career best set vs. San Jose St.), four touchdowns and no interceptions. In addition, he ran the ball 16 times for 33 yards and a touchdown — five sacks took away what would have been a bigger rushing night.

All told, he accounted or played a role in all five of Utah's touchdowns. Huntley also completed nine straight passes at the end of the first half and 15 of his final 17 attempts on the evening.

The sycronicity between Huntley and offensive coordinator Troy Taylor can't be understated either. Huntley is executing a well-constructed game plan weekly from Taylor. There hasn't been a better quarterback over the last three weeks than Huntley in the Pac-12. And with the success you can see the confidence growing weekly. The swagger has returned to the Utah offense, and it all starts with Huntley.

Chase Hansen

Those that follow Utah football closely have long thought that Hansen, while a good safety, would be an outstanding linebacker. So when Morgan Scalley made that move in the offseason nobody was really surprised or questioned the move.

Hansen looks and feels at home playing linebacker, and NFL talent evaluators have told me that it is his natural position at the next level too. Saturday night, he was a one-man wrecking crew against freshman quarterback JT Daniels and the USC offense.

Hansen impacted the run and pass game for the Trojans, rolling up a team-leading 11 tackles, three for loss, and a key interception that helped Utah dig out of an early hole.

Hansen isn't just having a great year at linebacker, I think he is making a case to be in the discussion for Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He's the best player on the league's best defense. His numbers through seven games: 63 tackles, 14 tackles for loss (which leads the Pac-12), four sacks, two interceptions and a touchdown.

In my mind, Hansen and Washington linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven are right now the two leading candidates for the honor.

Game balls

Tyler Huntley - His leadership and confidence are infectious right now and his teammates love him. What can't be written and only can be seen is his elusiveness and the throws he's making.

Chase Hansen - Turned the tide of the game with his acrobatic interception and was seemingly in on every running play that USC ran.

Javelin Guidry - His numbers weren't gaudy — three tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass break ups. But his impact was immense. He told me after the game that their film study of USC's pass routes was the big reason for their success. Guidry has become an elite nickelback in the Pac-12 and a hard guy to throw against.

Utah by the numbers

• Utah's 541 yards of total offense was their highest total in eight seasons of Pac-12 play, and their fifth 500+ yard outing in the Pac-12.
• Two Utes got their first career touchdowns Saturday night: freshman receiver Solomon Enis caught a 27-yard touchdown pass and tight end Jake Jackson caught an 11-yard touchdown pass.
• Huntley's 341 yards passing tied his career high in yardage, while topping the 300 yard mark for the fourth time in his career.
• Zack Moss notched his ninth career 100-yard rushing game with his 136-yard effort against USC.

You can catch my radio call of Utah and UCLA on Friday night with Scott Mitchell and Tom Hackett from the Rose Bowl at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN 700.

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