Rivals has their mid-season review up and it's chalk-full of Utah goodies.
Firstly, there is their 2008 bowl projections.
FIESTA BOWL, Glendale, Ariz. - Jan. 5, 8 p.m., Fox Matchup: BCS vs. BCS
This week's projection: Penn State vs. Utah
Now I don't know about you, but a trip to Glendale, Arizona to take on Penn State would be down right amazing and would trump the 2005 Fiesta Bowl by a mile.
Still, though, there is a lot of season left and we can't begin to really discuss the BCS until the BYU game. Sor for now, it's just a dream.
Beyond their bowl projections, there is also the mid-season writeup, which discusses the Utes quite a bit.
5 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE'VE LEARNED
4. WE HAVE A BCS-BUSTER IN OUR MIDST. And it likely will be either BYU or Utah. The two meet Nov. 22 in Salt Lake City in a season that has seen several other non-"Big Six" squads also cause some heads to turn. Boise State, TCU,East Carolina, Fresno State and Ball State are either currently ranked or have been at some point this season, and Tulsa is another that could have a perfect regular season.
Again, still a bit early to be talking the BCS, but I mean, the fact Utah is even being mentioned as a BCS buster seven weeks into the season is pretty cool.
5 HOTTEST COACHES
5. KYLE WHITTINGHAM, UTAH. First it was Urban Meyer. Now, it's Whittingham. He has perhaps the top non-"Big Six" program in the nation and his Utes are primed to go unbeaten.
It'll be interesting to see how many people come knocking if Utah goes 13-0 this season. The fact Urban Meyer has been successful at Florida only makes it more likely a program takes a look at Whittingham. Of course, I think it's unlikely a really big name has any interest in him. Which leaves basically Washington and Arizona, jobs I doubt he'd accept, but you never know.
5 BEST GAMES
3. UTAH 31, OREGON STATE 28, OCT. 2: Aiming to follow up on an upset of USC the week before, Oregon State led 28-20 after Lyle Moevao hit Brady Camp with a 2-yard pass with just 2:18 remaining. But Utah quarterback Brian Johnson rallied the Utes to 11 points in the final two minutes – the last three coming on Louis Sakoda's game-winning 37-yard field goal on the final play.
This definitely had one of the better finishes of the year, hell, one of the best finishes in recent memory -- at least for a Utes game.
5 MUST-SEE GAMES THE REST OF THE WAY
4. BYU AT UTAH, NOV. 22: If BYU wins Thursday at TCU, it appears as if this heated rivalry will feature two unbeaten teams. The Mountain West Conference would be on the line – and a BCS berth likely would be up for grabs, too.
Yes, this has the makings of being the most important Holy War in the history of the rivalry. However, I'd much rather TCU beat BYU and the Cougars enter the game needing a victory against Utah to just tie for the Mountain West.
Rivals also has published their Mid-season All-America Team, with one Ute making the list.
SPECIALSTSK LOUIE SAKODA, UTAH
PARTICULARS: 5-9/178, Senior
HIGH SCHOOL: San Jose (Calif.) Branham
BUZZ: Sakoda is following up his All-America performance in 2007 with another sterling season. He is 15-of-17 on field-goal attempts for the Utes, including 6-of-8 from beyond 40 yards. His longest this season is 53 yards, and his misses have come from 48 and 54. He's also averaging 43.4 yards per punt.
