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Since Utah's entry to the Pac-12, the annual year-end matchup with Colorado — referred to by Pac-12 personnel alone as the "Rumble in the Rockies" — has served as a reminder of two things.

First, that as trying as Pac-12 competition has been for Utah, life could be harder. The Utes have earned nearly four times as many conference wins as the Buffaloes (19-5), who've won two conference games in three seasons under head coach Mike MacIntyre.

And second, that despite that gulf, not much has separated these two teams when they line up against each other.

Colorado won in the series' resumption after 49 years of dormancy, costing Utah an improbable Pac-12 South title in 2011. Utah has won all three since, but by no more than one score.

In what has become part of the annual Rumble™ tradition, Kyle Whittingham expressed his belief this week that the game does not qualify as a rivalry.

"A rivalry, to me, kind of brings to mind bad blood or an ax to grind, and I don't know if there's that," he said. "We just both want to win games."

Saturday — for which the National Weather Service sees a 30 percent chance of snow showers — will be the second time in 62 meetings that one team has been ranked, the Utes No. 25 in the coaches poll.

Utah's ascendancy has been clear. From 10-14 in 2012-13 to 17-7 in 2014-15, their improvements have garnered results, and they could finish with a share of the South division title.

It takes a closer look and maybe a little imagination to see Colorado's progress. Whereas Utah was two years removed from winning the Sugar Bowl when it joined the Pac-12, Colorado had won one bowl since 1999. Utah produces almost double the Division I football players per capita as Colorado. There are 25 former Utes on NFL rosters, compared to 10 former Buffs.

"When I first got here, we were getting blown out," MacIntyre said in Tuesday's Pac-12 media teleconference. "Last year we played some close games, and then this year, we were leading a bunch of teams going into halftime and the fourth quarter, teams that had beaten us like a drum the four previous years."

His team was tied with Oregon at halftime. It took a touchdown lead into the fourth quarter against Arizona. It rallied from 21-3 down to lead UCLA 31-28 in the fourth. It led 17-3 against USC.

The defense has trimmed its opponents' average score from 39 per game in 2014 to 28 this year. It's on the plus side of the turnover margin after giving 10 more times than it got last season. MacIntyre points out only six seniors play frequently.

But Colorado lost all the aforementioned games. It lost to a Hawaii team, in the opener, that has only beaten UC Davis since. It lost most recently 27-3 to Washington State, another former cellar dweller that, like Utah, has begun to get results.

"Our league is extremely tough from top to bottom," MacIntyre said. "We've lost a lot of close football games against some top-ranked — it seems like every week we're playing a top-20 team. It does make it tough for you. Each week, you have to play extremely well to have an opportunity to win."

Redshirt freshman quarterback Cade Apsay made his first start in relief of injured third-year starter Sefo Liufau against the Cougars, throwing for 238 yards but getting picked off twice and generating one field goal from six trips into Washington State territory.

Whittingham said the offense looked much the same with Apsay at the helm.

They're not without talent. Wideout Nelson Spruce ranks second in the conference with 84 receptions. Shay Fields has 42, and defensive back Chidobe Awuzie is the sixth-ranked cornerback in the nation, according to grades provided to The Tribune by Pro Football Focus.

The Buffaloes have at least earned Utah's full attention, Whittingham said.

"They've been competitive virtually every week this year, they just haven't been able to get some of those games put away."

The Utes know: They took that step last year. But whatever sympathy they have, they'll save for 2016.

Twitter: @matthew_piper —

Colorado at Utah

P Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

TV • Pac-12 Network