This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

All week, the Utah Utes have defended their lopsided loss to TCU by saying the Horned Frogs are simply one of those special, national-caliber teams. Utah is still a good team, too, they say.

Now they have to prove it by playing an under-.500 team 1,480 miles from home.

This is the mystery that has become the Utes in 2010. Despite all their convincing wins early in the season, no one is really sure how good the team is, thanks to the struggles of their opponents.

While Pitt, 27-24 overtime loser to the Utes in the season opener, has gone on to lead the Big East, it still isn't the team most thought it was — it's just 5-4 after losing to UConn on Thursday.

At least the Panthers have a winning record. Out of Utah's opponents, only Air Force (6-4) and TCU (10-0) can claim the same. Collectively, Utah's opponents are a combined 34-52.

If the Utes lose to a Notre Dame team that is riddled with injuries and has had off-field distractions, the Utes' reputation will take another hit.

But a win on national TV would help them save face and probably give the Horned Frogs' even more credibility.

The Utes might have lost the MWC title and their BCS hopes, but their reputation is enough to play for and keep them motivated.

"This is a huge opportunity right now," offensive lineman Zane Taylor said. "We're playing a team with a lot of winning traditions and tens of millions watching us on TV. It's a great week to bounce back."

The Utes admit they were more devastated over the TCU loss than any defeat in recent memory because so much was on the line.

"Last year when we played them, we already had a loss," Taylor said. "We lost a lot of our goals in that game," he said of this year's outcome.

The Utes' goal now, they say, is to prevent TCU from beating them twice. They are determined not to let the loss to the Frogs affect their play Saturday.

While practice had a different air earlier in the week, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said he likes the way his team has come around to focus on the Irish.

"It goes away a little more each day," he said. "That is a good thing. If you are a team where it rolls off your back like water off a duck's back, you don't want that. You want guys who are competitive and a little bit ornery when something like that happens."

While they've rarely lost games as lopsided as the TCU contest was, the Utes do have a good history in rebounding from difficult situations under Whittingham.

Utah points to its 2007 shutout at UNLV and the seven-game winning streak that followed as a lesson for the current situation.

"I keep going back to that game, but that was such a turning point," Whittingham said. "Your mind-set after a loss is different than after a win. You usually have more corrections to make and issues to get corrected, but you have to handle everything on a case-by-case basis. Their minds appear to be in the right places."

If they aren't, the Utes could potentially let a great season become a dismal one if they lose to San Diego State, BYU, or both.

That won't happen, the players said.

"It takes pride after a big loss like that, and we are going to have to dig in deep and find that mojo we had the past games," Utah running back Matt Asiata said. "Everyone has worked hard, stayed late and watched film. We want to finish out strong as a family. We've had great unity throughout the season, and we want to beat the guys down south."

lwodraska@sltrib.comTwitter: @lyawodraska —

Utah at Notre Dame

P At Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Ind.

Kickoff • 12:30 p.m.

TV • Ch. 5

Radio • 700 AM

Records • Utah (8-1); Notre Dame (4-5)

Series history • First meeting

About the Utes • They are 1-3 all-time against independent teams, with a win against Navy and three road losses to Army. … Defensive end Junior Tui'one (calf) will miss his second game. … Chaz Walker leads the Utes in tackles, averaging 8.8 a game. … Jordan Wynn is second in the MWC in passing efficiency (147.6).

About the Irish • Tommy Rees will get his first start at quarterback after starter Dayne Crist suffered a season-ending knee injury against Tulsa. … Receiver Michael Floyd has a sore hamstring but will likely play. … Linebacker Manti Te'o is seventh in the nation in tackles, averaging 11.1 per game. … The Irish need to win two of their last three games to make a bowl.