BYU will hit the road for the first time in 2012 to take on the Utah Utes on Saturday, Sep. 15 in the Deseret First Duel rivalry game. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live from Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on ESPN2 and KSL Radio 1160 AM, 102.7 FM and ksl.com.
Fans should tune into the live Countdown to Kickoff pregame show at 7 p.m. MT on BYUtv and BYUtvsports.com. Also tune in to BYUtv and BYUtvsports.com for the live postgame show following conclusion of the game. Pregame radio coverage will begin at 6 p.m. MT on KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM and BYU Radio (SiriusXM channel 143).
BYU (2-0) at Utah (1-1)
Sep. 15, 2012 8:15 p.m. MT
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Salt Lake City, Utah
Complete BYU at Utah game notes
SERIES INFORMATION
This is the 88th game in the BYU-Utah series and the sixth of the Deseret First Duel. The Cougars trail in the series 31-52-4 but since 1978 lead the series 20-14. Last year the Utes defeated BYU in Provo 54-10.
WINNING STREAK
Bronco Mendenhall and the Cougars have won six consecutive games dating back to 2011. It is tied for third-longest streak in the nation behind TCU (9) and Baylor (7). BYU’s longest streak in program history is 25 games, spanning from 1983-1985, including the 1984 National Championship season.
VS. THE PAC-12
Under Mendenhall, BYU has gone 9-5 against the Pac-12, most recently defeating Washington State in the 2012 season opener. The Cougars will play three Pac-12 opponents in 2012 including Washington State, Utah and Oregon State later in the season.
SENIOR QUARTERBACKS VS. UTAH
With a senior BYU quarterback, the Cougars have won 10 of the last 11 games against Utah. A senior under center has helped BYU put up an average score of 38-19 against the Utes. The Cougars have won the last three over Utah when having a senior signal caller.
RECEIVER STREAK
BYU wide receiver Cody Hoffman has a reception streak of 21 games and counting, tied for the 19th longest streak in the nation. Hoffman has caught a pass in 27 of 28 career games to date. Utah’s DeVonte Christopher has caught a pass in 12 consecutive games.
RIVALRY TIES
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham played linebacker at BYU from 1978-81 and also worked as a graduate assisnt in 85-86. Defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake played fullback at BYU in 94,97-00 and was a GA in 02. Utah receivers coach Aaron Roderick played at BYU in 97-98 and then worked as a GA from 99-01. Cougar defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi was at Utah from 1994-2001 as a GA, DL coach and DE coach. Former Ute defensive lineman Jason Kaufusi (2000-03) is now a BYU defensive GA.
BRONCO'S DEFENSE
Since Bronco Mendenhall has taken over the defensive coordinating duties again (22 games dating back to 2010), BYU has allowed an average of 93.5 rushing yards per game. That mark is bested by only one other team, Alabama.
WATCH OUT HERE I COME
BYU and Utah have at least one player on these award watch lists: Biletnikoff (WR, BYU-Hoffman/Utah Christopher), Lombardi (Line or LB, BYU-Hansen, Van Noy/Utah-Lotulelei), Maxwell (Outstanding Player, BYU-Nelson/Utah-White), Nagurski (Best Defensive Player, BYU-Van Noy/Utah-Lotulelei), Doak Walker (RB, BYU-Alisa/Utah-White), Outland (Lineman, BYU-Hansen/Utah-Lotulelei) and Ray Guy (P, BYU-Stephenson/Utah-Sellwood). BYU has players on the following lists: Butkus (LB Kaveinga) Davey O’Brien (QB Nelson)while Utah has players on the Rimington (C Stevens), Bednarik (Defense, Lotulelei) and Walter Camp (Best player, White).