After the fall start due to COVID-19 a week ago, the Utes are preparing to take on UCLA on the road this coming Saturday night. The opener against Arizona was canceled due to the amount of players that had tested positive for COVID-19. Due to that the UCLA game has also been in doubt. Due to that uncertainty, the PAC-12 was able to move the game from Friday to Saturday to give the program more time for testing. Even if the game goes on Coach Whittingham has stated that we’d like see some scout team and walk on players playing on Saturday due to the amount of players that may not be playing due to the virus.
More good results in our daily Covid testing with Football. We continue to push ahead and prepare for our game vs UCLA this Saturday, with hopes for more negative test results throughout the week. The focus, as always, is to follow the leadership of our medical professionals.
— Mark Harlan (@MarkHarlan_AD) November 10, 2020
Two consecutive days of zero positive Covid tests within the football program so we are pushing ahead. We will continue to test everyday. Lets stay hopeful and all wear our masks as we fight this pandemic as one community, together.
— Mark Harlan (@MarkHarlan_AD) November 8, 2020
GO UTES! https://t.co/SGwPduKbf9
It was also reported that multiple position groups were decimated due to the virus, and it will be interesting to see which groups are able to bounce back. There is still some doubt that Utah will be able to play on Saturday, but the testing results are tracking the right way for the Utes. Each day is interesting in this developing story line, and we’ll just have to wait and see if this game happens.
Here are some notes from the press release on the upcoming game:
UTES ON THE ROAD
Utah is currently 249-254-12 all-time when playing on the road. The Utes trail the Bruins in the all-time series when playing in Pasadena, 6-3. Despite their losing record at the Rose Bowl, Utah has won the last three contests played at UCLA, including a decisive 41-10 victory in 2018. Former Ute Zack Moss posted a career-high 211 rushing yards on 26 carries against the Bruins in 2018, scoring 18 of Utah’s 41 points.
NUMBERS TALK
• Utah has scored 40+ points against UCLA in the last four meetings, outscoring the Bruins 190-75 in those games.
• With a win, Utah will have won 13-straight season openers, dating back to 2008.
• With a win, Utah will have won five straight against UCLA.
• After Utah’s game against UCLA, the Utes will have played in 82 games in the Pac-12.
• After Utah’s game against the Bruins, Kyle Whittingham will have coached in 196 games as the head coach of the Utes.
QUICK HITS
• Utah is 76-49-1 all-time in season openers. Utah last lost a season opener against Oregon State in 2007.
• The last time the Utes opened the season against an opponent from the Pac-12 was in 2007 against Oregon State.
• Utah’s game against UCLA will be the fifth time in program history that the Utes have opened the season on the road. Utah is 3-2 in season openers on the road, including a 30-12 victory in Provo against BYU last season.
• This is the first year Utah’s opening game will not be on a Thursday since 2008 (Saturday, Aug. 30 at Michigan).
• Utah’s game against UCLA marks the first time the Utes have opened back-to-back seasons on the road since openin three consecutive years away from home from 2006-08.
• Utah’s game against UCLA is the latest season opener for Utah since 1898 when head coach Benjamin Wilson’s squad began its three-game slate on Nov. 14 against City High in Salt Lake City.
• Utah enters the week receiving votes on both the AP and Coaches polls. Prior to the season starting, Utah landed at No. 22 in the Preseason AP Top 25.
• Utah’s preseason ranking by AP is the second-highest preseason AP Poll rank the Utes have received since 2015 after being voted No. 14 in 2019.
• The Utes have either been ranked or received votes in the last six AP Preseason polls, finishing the year ranked or receiving votes in four of those years. The Utes surpassed their preseason AP rankings in 2016 (P rank: 30th, FR: 23rd) and 2015 (P rank: 30th, FR: 17th).