This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated.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

Tempe, Ariz. • Even the last time, in 1976, it required a little magic.

After Arizona State took a 28-21 lead early in the fourth quarter, Craig Buchi drilled a 39-yard field goal, Pat Degnan hit Mike Cordy on a post route for a 79-yard score, and Gerald Greenwell's interception finally stopped the driving Sun Devils in Utah territory.

So it was that months after the nation turned 200, little more than a week after Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford, Utah beat Arizona State.

History has not always repeated itself.

It's not just that Utah has lost to Arizona State 10 consecutive times since, it's how they've lost. Average score: 35.9 to 12.8 — half of their losses by four or more touchdowns.

Prior to joining the Pac-12, Utah hadn't faced the Sun Devils since a 38-0 walloping in its 1993 season opener, the year before head coach Kyle Whittingham joined Utah's staff. But the two teams picked up where they'd left off in 2011: Utah turned it over on three straight posessions in the third quarter, and Brock Osweiler thumped them to the tune of 35-14.

Before their last trip to Tempe, in 2012, the Utes had just beaten No. 25 BYU (three times, some would argue). They'd won a bowl game in their first season in the Pac-12. Surely, fans could expect to build on that.

Arizona State was a wake-up call.

Four plays, 64 yards. ASU touchdown.

Seven plays, 59 yards. ASU touchdown.

Four plays, 34 yards. Ditto.

Then a little-known sophomore, a two-star nobody from Idaho, Taylor Kelly had edged hyped freshman Mike Bercovici in fall camp, and his marquee might well have read: "Some skinny kid."

By halftime, Kelly had thrown for 259 yards and three touchdowns, and he had become a skinny kid worth the price of admission.

The Utes managed just 209 total yards to the Sun Devils' 512 in the 37-7loss. It is still Utah's most thorough dismantling since a 47-7 defeat to No. 4 TCU in 2010. And while some in Salt Lake City blamed the heat — 99 degrees at the 7 p.m. kickoff — and zanier folks blamed the new matte black helmets, Utah had no answers.

They still don't.

"Who knows? That was two years ago," said senior defensive end Nate Orchard.

"We won't make that same mistake again."

There are some decent reasons to believe him, too. After going 1-8 in their last nine Pac-12 road games, Utah has opened the 2014 slate 2-0, with wins against previously unbeaten UCLA and one-loss Oregon State.

Not only has Utah won on the road, but they won both games after losing momentum and the lead: driving for a game-winning field goal in Pasadena and prevailing in overtime in Corvallis — two places where, incidentally, they didn't win in 2012, either.

Then, they were outmatched. That no longer seems the case.

"The speed they have was a huge adjustment, coming out of the Mountain West," said senior strong safety Brian Blechen. "I think we're definitely well-accustomed to the Pac-12 speed now."

Last year Utah lost to Arizona State by the closest margin of defeat yet (by default), 20-19, though knowing that was no kind of anesthetic. Kelly engineered two fourth-quarter scoring drives to erase a 19-7 Utah lead, and days after Utah fans filed out of Rice-Eccles catatonic, it was further revealed that starting quarterback Travis Wilson had sustained a concussion and had a pre-existing artery condition that threatened to end his career.

Utah learned from that loss that they have what it takes to beat the Sun Devils, and also that they need to foster a healthy respect — but not fear — for the Sun Devils.

Or any opponent, for that matter.

"We don't play history. We play the game," said senior tight end Westlee Tonga. "Whoever's on the other side of the field is who we're playing, no matter what week it is and what stadium you're in."

Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham said before the season that this year's offense is the best he's ever coached, and his defense has held Washington and Stanford to 20 points in the last few games.

So, Tonga's right that Utah isn't playing 1993, or 1985, or 1977 Arizona State.

And that's a good thing, because 2014 Arizona State is plenty tough.

Twitter: @matthew_piper —

No. 18 Utah at No. 15 Arizona State

P Kickoff • Saturday, 9 p.m. MT in Tempe, Ariz.

TV • FOX Sports 1. Radio • 700 AM

Records • Utah (6-1, 3-1), Arizona State (6-1, 4-1)

Series history • Arizona State leads 19-6

Last meeting • Arizona State won 20-19, Nov. 9, 2013

About the Utes • Bowl-eligible for the first time since 2011, the Utes would at the very least tie Arizona for the lead in the Pac-12 South by defeating Arizona State, but they'll have to do so without senior wideout Dres Anderson, lost for the season with a knee injury.

About the Sun Devils • Arizona State returned senior quarterback Taylor Kelly last week against Washington. In addition to Kelly, the Sun Devils are led by junior wideout Jaelin Strong (52 catches, 744 yards), junior running back D.J. Foster (648 yards rushing, 424 yards receiving), and senior safety Damarious Randall (66 tackles).