This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

Going 5-1 in its first six games will attract some attention to a football team, some near, some far, and some from high places.

Places like Park City, where San Diego bowl games official John Chalker makes his home for most of the year. Chalker has enjoyed watching the Utes as a local fan recently, but he's also keeping an eye on the team for scouting purposes.

The Holiday Bowl, which kicks off Dec. 27 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif., will have the second pick of Pac-12 teams after any selected by the College Football Playoff. As competitive as the South Division has been this year, Utah is on the list of possible candidates.

"They've got a tremendous defense this year, really good special teams," Chalker said. "They've been better than expected, even for a team with what some would call 'quarterback controversy.'"

Chalker was one of two bowl officials with a listed seat in press row, with an Alamo Bowl representative also scheduled to sit in on Utah's game with USC. The Pac-12 South's parity makes it hard to forecast who might end up where, but Utah is a strong candidate for the Holiday Bowl.

The Utes have played San Diego bowl games twice recently, going to the Poinsettia Bowl in 2007 and 2009. Of course, "recently" is a relative term — after a two-year absence from the postseason, Chalker imagines that fans would be excited to travel for a bowl, especially in sunny Southern California.

The timing is always tricky: Two days after Christmas is a tough sell for some families who would rather spend time with their families. But Chalker, who regularly makes the trip himself, knows there'd be interest.

"Whenever I fly," he said, "those planes are always full."

CB Orphey makes memorable start

The Utes made a bit of a switch with Tevin Carter sidelined, putting Eric Rowe at his old position at free safety, and starting Davion Orphey for the first time since the season opener.

Orphey didn't disappoint, making a memorable play right off the bat.

When a backward pass to Darreus Rogers bounced off his hands, both teams seemed to pause as if the play was dead. Not Orphey, who picked up the ball and ran it back 53 yards for a touchdown. The play was upheld on further review, a defensive score on just the second play of the game.

Utah's past conquests stumble

If you're grading Utah's strength of schedule so far at home, it's still tough ahead, with Arizona State, Arizona, Oregon and Stanford still to come.

But looking back … well, Saturday it was ugly.

Entering Saturday night's game, UCLA was still Utah's biggest win. Though the Bruins did emerge victorious Saturday, it was in unconvincing fashion with a double-overtime struggle against Colorado. Elsewhere in the Pac-12, Oregon State lost 38-14 to Stanford, and Washington State was overwhelmed 59-37 against Arizona.

Out of conference, Michigan was stomped by big brother Michigan State, 35-11. It was not without victory: Idaho State had a 46-12 win over Northern Colorado, its fifth win of the year.

Fresno State, mercifully, took the week off.

Twitter: @kylegoon