This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Pac-12 is coming.
Utah's football team is 3-0, its women's soccer team is 7-0-2, and its volleyball team is 10-1.
But in conference, they're 0-0, and the games by which all three ultimately measure their seasons will get underway this week.
We'll see you there.
FOOTBALL • There were moments, when Devin Funchess was hauling in Devin Gardner lobs amid three or four Utah defenders, or when Travis Wilson was catapulted face first into the sideline turf, when it was somewhat in doubt. They weren't much more than moments, though. Kaelin Clay returned a punt 66 yards and Utah, collectively, was off to the races against Michigan in a 26-10 victory that testified to a hard-nosed defensive identity and an offense that doesn't quit.
Here's our coverage from Ann Arbor and Salt Lake City:
• Fans racked up the miles for — going forward, at least — a rare road game in Ann Arbor
ON DECK • vs. Washington State, Saturday, Sept. 27, at Rice-Eccles Stadium (The Utes opened as 11.5-point favorites)
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL • The Utes matched their best start in Utah history with a straight sets victory over Utah State in Logan, but Beth Launiere's squad was no match for No. 12 BYU in Provo on Friday night, falling 25-18, 25-16 and 25-7. The loss to the Cougars was their fourth straight, and marked the second season in a row that BYU ended their perfect start at 10 matches.
ON DECK • at Colorado, 7 p.m. Thursday in Boulder; at Oregon State, 7 p.m. Saturday in Corvallis
WOMEN'S SOCCER • The unbeaten Utes have conceded just three goals all year, but previously hadn't filled the scoresheet themselves quite like they did in a 3-0 win at Utah State and a 4-0 win against Utah Valley. Freshmen Natalie Vukic and Mariah Elmer both scored in each game.
ON DECK • vs. Stanford, 3 p.m. Friday at Ute Field
WOMEN'S CROSS-COUNTRY • Ogden product Sarah Feeny — one of the best prep runners in America last year — is one for one as a collegiate runner, winning the meet title at the Montana State Invitational and running the eighth-best time ever on the Bozeman course (16:56.60) despite feeling sick. The Utes finished second overall to Wyoming.
ON DECK • Washington Invitational, Oct. 4 in Seattle
MEN'S BASKETBALL • With the program seemingly on the rise, the Runnin' Utes stand to get exponentially more exposure in 2014-15. The Pac-12 released its teams' full schedules on Monday, and while Utah's blockbuster nonconference slate was known, it was news that seven games will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2, three will be on Fox Sports One, and six will be on ESPNU.
ON DECK • vs. Pacific, Nov. 6
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL • Former Utes Kim (Smith) Gaucher, Michelle Plouffe and Shona Thorburn represented Team Canada in an exhibition loss to Team USA, warming up for the 2014 FIBA World Championships in Turkey, starting Saturday.
ON DECK • vs. Alaska-Anchorage, Nov. 5 at the Huntsman Center
SWIMMING AND DIVING • Head coach Joe Dykstra announced a slew of staff changes, which you can read about here.
ON DECK • vs. Stanford, 2:30 p.m. Friday at Ute Natatorium (women only); alumni meet, TBA Saturday at Ute Natatorium.
SOFTBALL • No results were available from a Tuesday fall scrimmage against SLCC.
ON DECK • vs. Utah Valley, 4 p.m. Tuesday at Utah Softball Stadium; vs. College of Southern Idaho, 6 p.m. Thursday at Utah Softball Stadium
BASEBALL • Utah opened its fall practice on Sunday with an intrasquad scrimmage at Ute Field. The team will season its 17 new players over a series of 15 scrimmages, which include two scrimmages at Smith's Ballpark and a trip to face UNLV in Las Vegas on Oct. 18.
ON DECK • Click here to see the full fall schedule.
MEN'S GOLF • No competition last week.
ON DECK • Husky Invitational, Sept. 22-23 in Bremerton, Wash.
— Matthew Piper
Twitter: @matthew_piper