Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- The #21 Utah Utes (8-2, 5-1 MWC) will try to rebound from one of the toughest losses in recent history this Saturday against the San Diego State Aztecs (4-6, 2-4 MWC).
TCU put up 55 points on the Utah defense, exploding for almost 350 rushing yards. Utah Head Coach Kyle Whittingham said at his Monday press conference, "All we can do is learn from it, put it behind us and move on."
Utah moves on to face an upstart San Diego State team that is 4-6 overall and 2-4 in the Mountain West Conference. The Aztecs still have much to play for with two more games in the season. If they can get both of those wins (@ Utah, @UNLV), they would become bowl eligible.
San Diego State employs a familiar face to head up the defense, former Head Coach at New Mexico Rocky Long. Kyle Whittingham said, "This week is similar to our defensive preparation for Air Force, but only with the offense going against the 3-3-5 scheme of the Aztecs." Long has brought the same scheme and has better athletes to run that scheme.
Offensively the Aztecs like to throw the ball around as they run a spread offense. New Head Coach Brady Hoke (former Ball State Head Coach) prefers to throw the ball and they do it well. They are ranked 2nd in the Mountain West Conference and 29th in the country in passing offense.
Utah insists that they are not looking ahead to next week's rivalry game with BYU, but if they are they could be in for a fight up on the hill Saturday night. This is the quintessential trap game.
