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Only a month ago, the Utah Utes were in shambles.

The quarterback was hurt, the offense was going nowhere. Their record in the new Pac-12 Conference was a miserable 0-4, and the college football world was saying the Utes didn't belong with the big boys.

Amazing how fast things change.

Out of the wreckage, the 7-4 Utes have won four straight games with a revised strategy that has put them unexpectedly in contention for a place in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game and even potentially — dare we say it? — the Rose Bowl.

"It's one of the more remarkable seasons I have had here," coach Kyle Whittingham said.

Even if the Utes don't reach the title game — they need a trio of results to go their way this weekend, starting with a victory over Colorado at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Friday — they are assured of a winning season that figures to deliver them to a pretty sweet postseason destination, such as the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio or the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.

Never had that in the Mountain West Conference.

All of which adds up to quite a respectable debut season in the Pac-12, especially considering athletic director Chris Hill spent the preseason trying to temper expectations, knowing how hard it would be for the Utes to contend right away in their new league.

"It's been a very, very good season," Hill acknowledged. "And the best thing about having seven wins is that we can get eight now."

Of course, the Utes have had a lot of things go their way to help their turnaround — most notably, the schedule.

The Utes played their first four Pac-12 games against some of the better teams in the league, with a combined record now of 27-17. Their past four games came against teams with a combined 16-28 record, and the Buffaloes who will visit Rice-Eccles Stadium for the regular-season finale are 2-10 with a 24-game losing streak outside their home state.

The Utes also miraculously avoided being assigned to play either Stanford or Oregon, two of the three best teams in the league, and they stand poised to reach the title game only because the third — USC — is ineligible to play in it, as punishment for widespread NCAA rules violations in years past.

The Trojans will actually win the Pac-12 South, widely viewed as the weaker of the two six-team divisions that the conference comprises.

But because they're ineligible for the postseason, the team that finishes second will represent the division in the title game Dec. 2.

"It would certainly be a great achievement for the Utes to play in the conference title game in their first season in the league, and to rebound from 0-4 is impressive," said Stewart Mandel, a prominent college football writer at SI.com. "But it does come with the caveat that USC actually won the division, and Utah was fortunate not to have to play Oregon or Stanford."

Still, anybody who has watched the Utes would have to say they have improved dramatically in the past month.

Inexperienced quarterback Jon Hays was once a shell-shocked turnover machine, after being forced into action when regular starter Jordan Wynn was injured. But he has settled nicely into a role as a low-risk caretaker and has avoided any catastrophic mistakes.

Running back John White has showed coaches that he's capable of being a workhorse despite his 5-foot-8 frame, averaging 34 carries and 167 rushing over the past four games and basically carrying the offense. The offensive line has found some continuity now that all its members are healthy, the defense has been an absolute terror from Day One, and the special teams have been borderline spectacular.

"We were down and out … and to respond the way we did has shown our resiliency," Whittingham said.

All that's left is the home stretch.

If the Utes beat Colorado (and they're favored by 201/2 points), they can reach the title game if Cal beats Arizona State later Friday night and USC beats UCLA on Saturday. Then, it's an astonishing eight-win season with the possibility for much more — something surely most fans would have taken in a heartbeat, had it been offered before the season.

"No question, this team has overcome a lot, in terms of having their backs against the wall," Hill said. "I'm really proud of how resilient the players and the coaches have been." Colorado vs. Utah

Kickoff • 1:30 pm

TV • ROOT More inside