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Los Angeles — The Utah Utes might be one of the new kids on the block in the Pac-12, but they are determined they won't play like it.

The Utes, who were picked to finish third in the Pac-12 South Division in the preseason media poll released Tuesday, are eager to prove they belong in a major conference after crafting an identity as an underdog against mighty BCS teams."It feels kind of weird, after we were fighting our way in for so long, to be in," said offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom, who represented Utah at media day, along with coach Kyle Whittingham. "But I'm the biggest BCS fan now."If anyone is expecting the Utes to be wide-eyed as one of the newest members of the Pac-12, both Bergstrom and Whittingham said that won't happen.Utah plans to use its successful experiences in BCS bowl games and its nonconference games to help it adjust to the atmosphere and quality of play it expects in the Pac-12. Utah's season starts with a home game against Montana State on Sept. 1, then the Utes get their first taste of the Pac-12 with a road game at USC on Sept. 10. The Trojans were picked to win the South Division."We've played in big stadiums before, so we will be ready," Bergstrom said. "We're always the team fighting our way to the top."The addition of Utah and Colorado to the league will make it even more competitive than it already is, said other coaches in attendance. Few expect Utah and Colorado to be easy opponents to beat."Both of them have pretty rich football traditions, so it's not like we're bringing somebody that is just stepping in," Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said. "You're talking about a national champion in Colorado. You're talking about Utah and what they've done. I can go back to Ron McBride, Urban Meyer and what coach Whittingham has continued doing, so two good programs, two tough places to go play."The Utes are 76-120-6 all-time against Pac-12 schools but are 8-5 in the past 10 years, including a 37-27 win against Cal in the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl."It's no secret how good of a football team and football program that Kyle has built there," said Cal coach Jeff Tedford.Some of Utah's reputation was tarnished last year with lopsided losses to TCU, Notre Dame and Boise State, but Whittingham is confident his team can compete."Our goal is to win the South," Whittingham said. "There are five other teams in the South thinking the same thing, but in the short term, our goal is to win the opener, and the long-term goal is to win the South Division and see what happens."Whittingham plans to use the bitter taste of Utah's 26-3 loss to the Broncos in the Las Vegas Bowl as motivation. That loss snapped Utah's nine-game bowl winning streak."You use everything you can to get a team ready," he said. "We are in a little bit of unfamiliar territory because it has been awhile since we ended a season with a loss, but we are going to come in and work harder than ever."Being picked third in the South is just about where Whittingham thought his team would land, while Bergstrom said he thinks the Utes can do even better."I've seen us projected anywhere from worst to first," he said. "I don't put a whole lot of stock into polls or worry too much about what everyone else thinks. I think we can come in and do well and even win the conference."Just as it did last year, the Pac-12 tried to make a big splash with its media day Tuesday, holding it on the grounds of the FOX studios. After lunch, the coaches boarded a plane to head east for media stops in New York City and Bristol, Conn. Any glitz and glamour that might have come with the events was wasted on Whittingham."Media days are media days," he said."It doesn't matter what conference it is. To me, all it means is the season is right around the corner."The Utes open camp Aug. 4. The top concerns going into camp are the same that were addressed during spring.The Utes have a good competition going at running back between Harvey Langi, John White and Thretton Palamo; have to develop their secondary; and have to get quarterback Jordan Wynn involved in the offense.Wynn couldn't participate in spring practice because he was recovering from shoulder surgery, but he has taken a leading role in getting the team ready during summer workouts, Bergstrom said."No question, he is going to be ready," Bergstrom said. "He has been running groups together in the summer and going over the offense. He has really taken on that leadership role."

Pac-12 preseason media poll

Note: First-place votes in parentheses

North Division1. Oregon (29) 2392. Stanford (13) 2203. Washington 1424. Oregon State 1205. California 1106. Washington State 51South Division1. USC (24) 2302. Arizona State (13) 2073. Utah (4) 1704. Arizona (1) 1405. UCLA 896. Colorado 46Pac-12 title game champion • Oregon (28), Stanford (11), Arizona State (3). —

Pac-12 preseason media poll

Note • First-place votes in parentheses

North Division

1. Oregon (29) 239

2. Stanford (13) 220

3. Washington 142

4. Oregon State 120

5. California 110

6. Washington State 51

South Division

1. USC (24) 230

2. Arizona State (13) 207

3. Utah (4) 170

4. Arizona (1) 140

5. UCLA 89

6. Colorado 46

Pac-12 title game champion • Oregon (28), Stanford (11), Arizona State (3).