PASADENA, Calif.-After cracking the Top 25 for the first time on the season, the Utah Utes ensue in their quest of a Pac-12 South title as they visit the UCLA Bruins Friday at the Rose Bowl of Pasadena, Calif.
The Utes are #23 in The Associated Press poll and #24 in the coaches poll and are fresh off a 41-28 dismantling of USC last Saturday.
The win for Utah was significant as they have taken the Pac-12 South lead from the Trojans. Both the Utes and Trojans are 3-2 in conference play but the Utes, at 5-2, have a better overall record than USC (4-3) and have the head-to-head win to their credit.
The Utes have begun to play complementary football in running off three consecutive wins against Stanford, Arizona and USC.
In all of those contests, the Utes have amassed at least 40 points.
The Utah defense remains among the best units in college football. The Utes lead the nation in rushing defense (74.6 yards per game), are second in red zone defense (.550 success ratio for opponents) and seventh in total defense (286.4 yards per game).
With a win at the Rose Bowl Friday, the Utes will become bowl eligible for the 13th time in the 14 seasons Kyle Whittingham has been at the helm in Salt Lake City.
UCLA leads the all-time series 11-5 but the Utes have won two straight against the Bruins and three of the last four in the series.
This will be an 8:30 pm MDT kickoff.