This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The rivalry game is back and better than ever. A pair of nine win teams on a bowl stage in Bronco Mendenhall's last game and Utah's quest for its first 10-win season since joining the Pac-12. It's four year warrior Travis Wilson versus first year phenom Tanner Mangum at quarterback — a talented BYU offense versus a ferocious Utah defensive line. Will the Utes prevent Mendenhall from reaching 100 wins before he leaves for Virginia? Or will BYU end a losing streak against Utah? Here's a position-by-position look at this week's matchup and which team will have the edge heading into Saturday's game:
Quarterback
Travis Wilson is undefeated thus far in his Utah career against BYU and gets a chance to go out on top in Las Vegas. However, he's limped to the finish line this season, throwing for 155 yards or less in three of Utah's last four games and multiple touchdowns in only an overtime loss against Arizona. Losing weapons left and right, Wilson will hope Britain Covey can return for the bowl game to help boost Utah's anemic passing attack. The senior passer will have a chance against the 50th best pass defense in the FBS, but must avoid interceptions to players like Kai Nacua and attack the Cougars on the ground to keep the BYU pass rush honest.
Tanner Mangum could end his storybook season in Provo with a win against the Utes. Throwing for at least 230 yards in 10 games this season, Mangum roasted Utah State in BYU's season finale to the tune of 284 yards and four touchdowns. However, in common Utah opponents Michigan and UCLA and against a top defense in Missouri, Mangum has only two touchdowns to one interception and was held under 250 yards passing in all three contests. If the Utes can stymie Mangum like Michigan did (only 55 yards passing), BYU could struggle. However, with Mangum leading the nation's 21st best passing offense and with BYU's embarrassment of riches at wide receiver, Mangum takes this category.
Edge: BYU
Running back
It's a shame to miss Devontae Booker in this game from an objective standpoint and from Utah's offensive production standpoint. But Joe Williams has shown he can carry the load and has the speed to create problems for BYU's defensive front. In Utah's final two games of the season, he's rushed for 308 yards and a touchdown with a 5.1 yards per carry average. Williams has a good matchup against the 42nd best rushing defense in the FBS and should have success as long as he doesn't fumble after putting the ball on the ground twice in the final two games.
Algie Brown struggled with injury to start out the season, but scored in each of BYU's last seven games to lead the team with 697 yards and 11 touchdowns. Washington State transfer Squally Canada has also been confirmed as eligible for the Cougars, a potential X factor to boost BYU's struggling rushing attack. The Cougars are 107th best in the FBS in running the ball while the Utes are 43rd. Utah has a clear advantage here.
Edge: Utah
Wide receivers
Covey's status is still up in the air for the bowl game after he missed the Colorado game. If he can't go, Utah fans will hope Kenneth Scott is healthy and saved his best game of the season for last. With only one 100 yard receiving performance this year against Arizona State, Scott seems "due" for a big game against BYU's secondary. The Utes will also rely on Raelon Singleton, Delshawn McClellon and Tyrone Smith to make a few plays, while Bubba Poole continues to work in the slot.
BYU's advantage at this position is undeniable between Mitch Mathews and everyone else in the Cougar wide receiving corps. Mathews dominated Utah State for 158 yards and two touchdowns to bring his season total to 11 touchdowns and 729 yards. BYU has five pass catchers with at least 400 yards to Utah's two. With the Utes struggling to contain opposing passers this year, BYU could be in for a big day through the air.
Edge: BYU
Offensive line
Utah finished the season as the fourth best team in the Pac-12 in pass protection, allowing 20 sacks to opposing teams. Colorado brought Wilson down twice in the season finale, making the Utes matchup tougher against a BYU team that has 37 sacks this year. Utah will have to contend with Bronson Kaufusi and limit his impact to stay ahead in this game.
BYU gave up 29 sacks this season, nine more than the Utes. After Utah racked up six sacks against Colorado to finish the season with 33, fourth best in the Pac-12. The Cougars will have to keep Mangum upright in this game against Utah's ferocious front seven. The pass rush of both teams will determine this game, but Utah has a slight edge at this position.
Edge: Utah
Defensive line and linebackers
Kaufusi may be the biggest factor in this game outside of Mangum for BYU. Kaufusi has 55 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 11 sacks coming into this game, making him a nightmare matchup for both pressuring Wilson and blowing up Utah's run game. At the second level, Fred Warner and Harvey Langi will have to take good angles to contain Williams and garner some pressure on Wilson as well. An underlying key in this game will be how BYU's 17th ranked red zone defense stacks up with Utah's 12th ranked red zone offense. If the Cougars can limit Utah to field goals, they'll have a great shot in this game.
Talent abounds on both sidelines in the defensive front seven in this game. Gionni Paul isn't a local prospect and doeesn't have the same vitriol for BYU as some of his Utah teammates, but he'll be looking to make a mark on this game as well. Paul finished the regular season with 109 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, racking up 13 tackles and an interception in Utah's final game against Colorado. Kylie Fitts has emerged as a reliable pass rusher and is tied for a team-leading six sacks with Pita Taumoepenu. Utah will have to limit BYU's fourth ranked red zone offense and pressure Mangum to keep the Cougars from making chunk plays. Utah has faced a tougher schedule and has a better defensive resumé than BYU, but this battle is still incredibly close.
Edge: Utah
Secondary
Utah's defensive backs looked shaky at best down the stretch with Cory Butler-Byrd, Dominique Hatfield and Reggie Porter giving up their share of big plays. The Utes finished 96th in the nation for passing yards allowed to opposing quarterbacks with 253 per game, a big issue coming into a game against BYU's prolific pass offense. However, the Utes also led the Pac-12 in interceptions with 19, three coming in the season finale against Colorado. The Utes will need to get at least one pick from Mangum in this game and will have to play their best game of the season against a deep BYU receiving corps.
BYU's pass defense wasn't among the best in the country, allowing 213 yards per game to opposing quarterbacks, but the Cougars still held up better than the Utes. Facing a much weaker schedule helped, but the Cougars gave up only 12 touchdowns to opposing passers all season, eight better than Utah's 20. The Cougars also face a depleted Utah receiving corps that would be further hobbled if Covey can't play. Nacua will be a huge factor in this game after nabbing six interceptions in the regular season. If Wilson turns the ball over a few times, BYU will have a big advantage.
Edge: BYU
Prediction: The Cougars have extra incentive to win this game to send Bronco Mendenhall off with a 100th win as BYU's coach, but Kyle Whittingham is 7-1 in bowl games as Utah's coach. There are storylines, incredibly even matchups and bad blood to spare in this rivalry, but when the dust settles Saturday night, Utah will come out on top with a 27-23 victory.