10 Numbers To Know About Utah Entering 2019 Season
Aug 28, 2019, 9:19 AM
Orlando Umana #50, Jason Shelley #15, Darrin Paulo #77 of the Utah Utes congratulate Jake Jackson #44 of the Utah Utes after his touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half of The San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 31, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – On the eve of the 2019 University of Utah football season getting underway, there are 10 numbers, stats and facts that you need to know before the season starts.
Utah will face their in-state rival BYU on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Here are the 10 numbers, stats and facts you need to know:
One
Utah was picked by the media in the preseason poll to win the Pac-12 conference for the first time in school history. Some national pundits have marked the Utes as a College Football Playoff contender.
That is also the ranking that Utah’s defensive line is receiving in the entire country. With seniors Bradlee Anae, Leki Fotu and John Penisini returning for the 2019 season, Utah’s defensive front should cause fits for opposing offenses.
15
That’s the amount of starters return for the 2019 season from last year. Those key players include Anae, Fotu, Penisini as well as safety Julian Blackmon, cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Javelin Guidry and Mika Tafua among others on defense.
The offense brings back quarterback Tyler Huntley, running back Zack Moss, wide receivers Britain Covey, Demari Simpkins and Jaylen Dixon, tight end Cole Fotheringham, left tackle Darrin Paulo and center Orlando Umana.
100
It’s the 100th meeting between Utah and BYU (at least according to Utah’s records). The Utes are 61-34-4 all-time against BYU in rivalry history, including a 1-0 record at a neutral site (2015 Las Vegas Bowl), and a 40-17-3 record at home.
11
The current winning streak in season openers for Utah. Under Kyle Whittingham, Utah is 12-2 in season openers and 1-2 when opening the season on the road. It’s the first time that BYU and Utah have opened their seasons against each other.
Nine
With a win over BYU, the Utes will have won nine straight games over the Cougars with BYU’s last win coming in 2009. The Cougars held a nine-game winning streak in the rivalry as well, from 1979-87.
569
That is the amount of yards that Utah senior running back Zack Moss is away from passing Eddie Johnson for the school’s all-time rushing yards leader. He currently has 2,651 career rushing yards and is in fourth place in school history with Johnson holding the record with 3,219 yards.
23
The Utes are 23-1 in regular season non-conference games under Kyle Whittingham since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. Utah’s only loss in non-conference play in the Pac-12 era is in 2012 against Utah State.
11
In the last 13 meetings, under head coach Kyle Whittingham, the rivalry game has been decided by a touchdown or less in 11 of the last 13 games. The only two meets that were decided by more than a touchdown in that span was in 2008 when Utah beat the Cougars 48-24 in Salt Lake City and in 2011 with the Utes dominating the Cougars 54-10 in Provo.
14
The preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll was released last week and Utah is ranked No. 14 in the country. It’s the highest preseason ranking in school history. The last time the Utes were ranked in the preseason AP Poll was in 2009 when they were No. 19.
3
That is the amount of consecutive wins that the Utes have in Provo as a part of their eight game winning streak over the Cougars. Utah is 20-17-1 all-time on the road against BYU.
