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So what if BYU is going independent, signing an eight-year TV deal with ESPN and playing Notre Dame in a six-game series? The school down south could change its colors and slow roast Cosmo the Cougar for a halftime meal, and the Utah Utes and their fans couldn't care less. In case anyone hasn't noticed, Utah has a game to play tonight. It's not just any game, either.The Utes are hosting No. 15 Pittsburgh at sold-out Rice-Eccles Stadium in perhaps the most anticipated football home opener ever.The game has plenty of intriguing story lines.Pitt is the first ranked team to play at Utah to start the season. The game features a Big East team against a soon-to-be-Pac-10 team and marks the kickoff party for the Panthers' Dion-Lewis-for-Heisman campaign.It's also a rematch of the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, won by the Utes 35-7, although both sides have gone out of their way to say the teams are very different from those that took the field back then."There is no comparison, this is a much better team," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said of the current Panthers — but maybe, possibly, his statement could apply to the Utes, too?While the Utes are starting the season unranked in the Associated Press poll, some believe this team has the potential of its two BCS-busting predecessors.Offensively, the Utes are expected to unveil one of their most diverse offenses thanks to two strong running backs in Matt Asiata and Eddie Wide. They also sport a deep receiving corps and their best lineup at tight end since the memorable 2004 season. The defense has some question marks, but the Utes have filled in the gaps before and excelled. So why not this season, too?While BYU set off fireworks in the college football world on Wednesday, the Utes believe they have plenty to set off themselves tonight where it matters most: on the football field."It's going to be an explosive game," Wide promised. "We have a lot on the table, and we are just excited to go out there and give it our all."That the Utes finally get to face a big-time opponent at home to start the season makes tonight special, center Zane Taylor said.After visiting teams such as Michigan and Oregon early in the season, the Utes have a big draw at home as an opener and they want to make the best of the situation. They're also intent on preserving Utah's home winning streak, which stands at 17 games."We have a huge home winning streak to defend," Taylor said. "We know how much momentum this first game can give us. There is a lot riding on this game so you better believe we are going to put everything we've got into kicking off this season right."The Utes are 0-5 against ranked teams in season openers, but all those games were on the road. Ending that losing streak and doing so in front of a home crowd would be the best way to start the season."It's great to bring them into our den, or whatever you want to call it, and give them a taste of what Utah football, Mountain West football is all about," defensive end Christian Cox said. "I don't think they really understand what they are getting themselves into."The Utes are 3-point favorites according to the Las Vegas lines, but they still feel a bit like underdogs because Pitt has the higher ranking and a Heisman-hyped player.It's a familiar position for the Utes, who admit they love playing the role of spoiler because it brings a certain attitude to their game, one they plan to use tonight, said defensive end Derrick Shelby."It's a national stage and you have to come out and show the nation what you are all about," he said. "We've been talked down as long as I can remember and that motivates a team pretty good."