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SALT LAKE CITY — Reversing historical course, nationally ranked Utah and Utah State enter November as favorites to play in their conference football championship games while BYU is fighting to reach bowl eligibility.
Starting in the mid-1970s and lasting for two decades, BYU was usually the state’s team playing for championships over the final month of the season. But this is a new era, one that belongs to the Utes and Aggies.
After losing their first two conference games, the Utes are on a four-game winning streak and are firmly entrenched as the favorite to win the Pac-12 South Division. Each of the other five teams have three losses.
Behind a prolific offense, Utah State is humming along at 7-1, having lost only the season-opener at Michigan State. At 4-0 in the Mountain West, they likely will have to beat Boise State (4-1) in four weeks to win the Mountain Division.
“We’re not at the top at the end of the year,” said Utah State coach Matt Wells. “We’re just there right now. I certainly think the struggle and journey getting there has been awesome, and we’ve got to continue to enjoy that journey and the struggle for the next four weeks (in) the month of the November.
“We want to put ourselves in a chance to compete for a championship in the month of November. We’re here, so can we finish?”
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham took it a step further, to the point of practically denying his team’s position as the definite favorite in the South Division. He insisted Utah’s only focus is on Arizona State, this week’s opponent.
However, Utah ranks among the hottest teams in the country after going unbeaten in October. None of Utah’s remaining three conference opponents – ASU, Oregon and Colorado – have a winning record in Pac-12 play.
“Makes no difference to us,” Whittingham said of Utah’s favored status. “We just try to block out all that noise. All we’re worried about is Arizona State. We don’t care where we’re positioned; who’s got what losses. We can’t worry about that.
“That’s not the M.O. you want. You want to be completely focused on the opponent that’s next, not worry about the peripheral stuff. If you play well, good things will happen.”
Whittingham’s cautious approach makes sense, considering Utah’s recent history. Twice in the last three years the favored Utes blew a home game late in November that cost them a chance to win the South Division.
Aware that their team has yet to win the division since joining the Pac-12 seven years ago, many Utah fans fear another late-season collapse. Even though the task won’t be easy, this year’s offense is much more competent compared to prior teams and should inspire much more confidence.
Still, Whittingham won’t hear it, pointing to the rash of upsets in college football. He need only point to last week, when Colorado blew a 28-point lead and lost to Oregon State several hours before Arizona demolished Oregon.
“You see upsets every week,” Whittingham said.
The Aggies actually could finish the regular season at 10-2 and still not advance to the Mountain West championship game. Perennial favorite Boise State looms ahead, but the Broncos still have to play No. 20 Fresno State.
Utah State could clinch the division by winning the next three games and Fresno State beats Boise State in two weeks.
“I don’t think we’re close to a finished product yet,” Wells said, “and it’s nowhere close to getting our goals and achieving our goals.”
Interestingly, BYU might have the best chance of the three in-state schools of meeting preseason expectations. Coming off a miserable 4-9 season, the Cougars all along were hoping to get back in a bowl game.
At 4-4, with games ahead against Massachusetts and New Mexico State, BYU should be able to reach the necessary six wins. But remember, this is a new era for BYU.
