NOV. 23
85
After a decade away
from Salt Lake City,
Andy Ludwig—
Utah’s offensive
coordinator
from 2005 to
’08—returns for
a second stint
with the Utes. The
Utah offense made
strides last season,
but Ludwig, who
turned around the
Vanderbilt offense
at his last stop, has
a plan for taking
the Utes to another
level: by becoming
more of a run-first
attack, taking
advantage of both
QB T yler Huntle y’s
dual-threat ability
and running back
Zack Moss’s power
rushing. The offense
was humming—with
40 or more points
in four straight
October games—
before Huntley’s
season-ending
injury last year; this
season Ludwig, who
wants Huntley to
call the plays at the
line, expects his QB
to shoulder even
more of the load.
X-FACTOR
THE BIG STORY For the first
time since their move from
the Mountain West Conference
in 2011, the Utes won the Pac-12
South after finding an offense
to complement its ferocious
defense, ranking in the top half
of the conference in scoring for
the first time. The Utes put up
impressive numbers despite losing
quarterback Tyler Huntley (broken
collarbone) and tailback Z ACK MOSS
(knee injury) for the final five
games of the season. Now both
are healthy—and Utah’s offense
is poised to be one of the Pac-12’s
most balanced.
CAN’ T MISS Utah has become
a pipeline of talent at
defensive line, with six NFL draft
picks over the last five years.
Seniors Leki Fotu and Bradlee
Anae are carrying on the tradition.
Fotu is a 6' 5", 335-pound
behemoth tackle while Anae (a
Pac-12 best eight sacks) is a
pass-rushing force as an end.
KE Y QUESTION The Utes’
defense is built around its
two linebackers. But who will
replace NFLers Cody Barton and
Chase Hansen, potentially the best
linebacker tandem the school has
ever had? Penn State transfer
Manny Bowen figured to start for
Utah, but abruptly quit the team
last week. Senior Francis Bernard,
who has recovered from a shoulder
injury, will likely fill one of the roles.
KEY MATCHUP
BIGGEST GAME
SI RANKING
AUG. 29
@ BYU
SEPT. 7
NORTHERN
ILLINOIS
SEPT. 14
IDAHO STATE
SEPT. 20
@ USC
SEPT. 28
WASHINGTON STATE
OCT. 12
@ OREGON STATE
OCT. 19
ARIZONA STATE
OCT. 26
CALIFORNIA
NOV. 2
WASHINGTON (12)
NOV. 16
UCLA
NOV. 30
COLORADO
THE RUNDOWN
3
6
9
12
15
10
–^3
9 –
4
7 –
6
9 –
5
9 –
3
WINS
The Utes are the clear
favorites in the Pac-12
South, but they’re
thinking bigger: a
first-ever trip to the
YEAR 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019* Rose Bowl.
*SI PROJECTION
5 -YEAR TREND
8.5
Other than a trip
to USC and a home
date with Washington, Utah
should be heavy favorites in
every game. If the Utes beat the
Trojans in late September, they
might have the Pac-12 South
wrapped up by mid-October.
OVER OR UNDER
2019
SCHEDULE
Utah
FRO
M^ L
EFT
:^ TH
EAR
ON
W.
HE
ND
ERS
ON
/GE
TTY
IMA
GES
;^ BO
YD^
IVE
Y/I
CON
SP
OR
TSW
IRE
/GE
TTY
IM
AGE
S
14
