Football has Bye Week Before USC Game

QUICKLY

> The Utes (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12) take this week off before hosting No. 13 USC (3-1, 1-1 Pac-12), which also has a bye this week. The Utah-USC game will be played on Thursday, Oct. 4 starting at 7 p.m. MDT in Rice-Eccles Stadium and televised by ESPN. Radio is ESPN700 AM (espn700sports.com).

> Utah's game with USC on Oct. 4 is sold out with the exception of standing room tickets that will be made available only to University of Utah students and will go on sale Sept. 29.

> Kyle Whittingham is 8-8 as a head coach against teams ranked in the A.P. Top 25 and 1-0 this season (vs. then No. 25 Brigham Young on Sept. 15).

> Utah and USC have not played in Salt Lake City in 95 years. The Trojans last came to town in 1917, when they beat Utah 51-0.

> A year ago, Utah lost to USC in its Pac-12 debut, 23-14 in the Coliseum. Trailing 17-14 with 11 seconds left in regulation, Utah had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Coleman Petersen's 41-yard field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown. More on the series on page 2.

> Whittingham is 6-1 coming off regular-season byes, with his only loss coming last season against Washington. Whittingham's post-bye victories came over Wyoming (2005, 2007), Colorado State (2006, 2009), New Mexico (2008) and Iowa State (2010).

> Utah's record in Thursday games is 53-25-5 and the Utes have won eight straight since losing on a Thursday at Oregon State in 2007. The Trojans are 22-10-3 all-time in Thursday games.

> USC has claimed 11 national championships, while Utah's best national finish was No. 2 (A.P.) in 2008. The Utes finished No. 4 in the A.P. poll in 2004.

> Utah has made 10 bowl appearances since 2000, going 9-1 with a 2-0 record in BCS bowl games. Utah is one of just three teams to win six bowl games in the last seven years (with Florida and TCU).

IN THE HUDDLE

Utah's defense was down two starters to injury in its game at Arizona State: free safety Eric Rowe and defensive end Joe Kruger. Both are expected back for the USC game ... Making his first start as a Ute vs. ASU was sophomore linebacker Jacoby Hale. Hale and Victor Spikes, who got his first action of the season against ASU, are the new co-starters at rover ... Moving up to second on the running back depth chart after a career game against ASU is junior college transfer Kelvin York ... Experimentation continues on the offensive line, where redshirt freshman Siaosi Aiono played in his first game as a Ute against ASU after an injury to starter Vyncent Jones. Jones is listed as the starter at right guard for the USC game ... V.J. Fehoko is now in the three deep at both stud linebacker and left end ... Reggie Topps replaces Moe Lee as one starting corner. Ryan Lacy holds down the other corner spot ... Two true freshmen have played for Utah this season: quarterback Travis Wilson and OL Jeremiah Poutasi.

TWO-MINUTE DRILL

Utah is ranked third in the Pac-12 and 27th in the nation in rushing defense (111.2). The Utes are ranked fourth in the conference in total defense (329.5) and pass defense (218.2). For complete Utah rankings, see sidebar on page 3 ... Utah's best quarter on both sides of the ball is the third, when the Utes have scored 34 points while allowing just three ... Utah and its opponents are both converting on 31% of their third down attempts and both have 11 sacks ... Dating back to last season, Utah is 9-0 when John White rushes for 100 yards ... 16 players have caught passes for Utah this season ... Utah has earned one Pac-12 Player of the Week honor this fall: freshman punter Tom Hackett (playing in his first American football game) on Sept. 15 against BYU.

OUTSIDE THE LINES

Jordan Wynn has been invited by ESPN to participate in two studio shows in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Wynn will do a segment on College Football Daily at 1 p.m. ET (11 a.m. MT) and will be a guest analyst on The Experts at 2:30 ET (12:30 MT) with Andre Ware, Mike Bellotti, Mark Schlabach and Tom Luginbill. Both shows will be live on ESPNU ... With the USC game already sold out, the Utes have sold out 15-straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium, including every game since 2010 ... Utah's all-time record after byes (excluding bowls) is 94-37-6 and 77-23-6 in home games. The Utes are 27-8-1 (22-2-1 at home) in October games played after a bye.

UTE-TWEETS

Utah is 10-9 in games televised by ESPN #utes ... Utah is 6-5 (3-5 at home) in games played on Oct. 4. This is Utah's first Oct. 4 game in 27 years #utes ... Whittingham is 8-9 all-time vs. Pac-12 schools (4-6 as a member of the Pac-12) #utes ... Utah's 89 wins in the last 10 years is tied for ninth in the nation, while USC is tied for second with 101 #utes ... The Kyle Whittingham Coach's Show this week is Wed. at 6 pm at Harmon's City Creek. Next week's show is on Tues. #utes.