UCLA Football Early 2018 Schedule Preview: Utah Utes

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PROVO, UT – SEPTEMBER 9: Head coach Kyle Whittingham of the Utah Utes watches practice prior to their game against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

Go Joe Bruin continues the early 2018 previews with a look at UCLA football’s midseason Friday night contest with the Utah Utes.

Continuing our previews of UCLA football‘s season schedule, we now look at a conference foe that has given the Bruins hell since they joined the Pac-12. That, of course, is the Utah Utes.

Utah is the only Pac-12 South team that has not won the division. That could change this year as they should bounce back from an underwhelming 2017 campaign.

Add to that the fact that the South has gone through a lot of calamities since the end of last season and the Utes have a very good chance to take the Division for the first time in the program’s history.

UCLA Football Early 2018 Schedule Previews

Utah Utes

Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham | Overall Record 111-56

2017 Record: 7-6, 3-6

2017-18 Bowl Game: Heart of Dallas Bowl vs West Virginia, 30-14 win

What: UCLA Bruins vs. Utah Utes

Where: Rose Bowl

When: Friday, October 26, 7:30 p.m. PT

Must Read. UCLA Football Fall Camp 2018: 5 things to look for this fall. light

Despite the fact that they went 7-6, Utah was the only Pac-12 team to win a bowl game last season. That is something they can hang their hat on, but it is not enough for a program as proud as the Utes.

This year, despite key losses in personnel, Utah will be determined to not only get back to the top of the South but finally become king of the (pacific and) mountain.

Utah’s Five-Year Win Trend

2017 – ★★★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆ 7-6
2016 – ★★★★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 9-4
2015 – ★★★★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 10-3
2014 – ★★★★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 9-4
2013 – ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 5-7

At Pac-12 Media Day, Utah was picked to finish second in the division behind USC. Though that is a strong possibility, it is also possible that Utah takes the whole damn thing.

USC has lost several key players, UCLA, Arizona and Arizona State are in transition with new coaches and Colorado is, well, they are Colorado. With that in mind, you can see how there is a good possibility they win the division.

But they have to go through UCLA first.