After a strong 3-0 start, UCLA football will travel to Salt Lake for a showdown with the 11th-ranked Utah Utes.
2023 is off to a solid start for UCLA football, but their biggest test yet comes this week on a road trip to Utah. The Utes are undefeated as well, setting up one of the biggest matchups of what appears to be the best Pac-12 season in a long time.
Let’s break it down, position by position.
Quarterback: Tie (If Rising plays for Utah)
Dante Moore has been tremendous through the first three games of the season, but none of those games have been road trips to Salt Lake to play Kyle Whittingham’s defense. Moore has passed every test so far, but there’s a good chance it takes Moore a half of football to get going.
If Cam Rising were playing for Utah, the edge here would go to the Utes. His status, as of writing this Monday, is still in question. For now, we’ll write this as if Nate Johnson is getting the start.
After a shaky start for Bryson Barnes, Johnson has emerged as the interim starter until Rising returns. A dual threat, Johnson has completed 68.8 percent of his throws for 281 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 148 yards on 33 carries and picked up three touchdowns.
Running Back: UCLA
The Bruins have a committee of backs who can all catch the ball as well as they run it, and Chip Kelly has said he plans on continuing to give that group a bigger role. With a freshman quarterback on the road in the toughest environment he’s faced, these backs will get plenty of work catching swing passes and check-downs out of the backfield.
The Utes’ rushing attack is a two-headed one, led by Ja’Quinden Jackson and Jaylon Glover. They’ve combined for 306 yards on 56 carries through three games, helping form a strong running game with their emergent quarterback.
Receiver: Utah
The best wideout on the field Saturday may be UCLA’s J Michael Sturdivant, but the edge goes to the Utes when it comes to the overall groups.
Money Parks leads the way for Utah with eight catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns and Mikey Matthews has caught ten balls for 120.
Statistically, UCLA’s receivers are responsible for a lot more yards, but they have benefitted from better quarterback play and a more wide-open offense. Utah’s group has been reliable as the quarterback play has been up-and-down, and they also have a good pair of pass-catching tight ends in Thomas Yassin and Miki Suguturuga to further diversify their offense.
Offensive Line: Utah
Both offensive lines in this matchup have been solid thus far, paving the way for solid running games and keeping their quarterbacks mostly clean.
The Utes are going to get the edge here based on their more proven resume in 2023. Utah is posting three fewer yards per carry this season, but that comes with games against Florida and Baylor. UCLA hasn’t quite faced that level of competition from a defensive front.
Considering Florida’s strong defensive performance against the explosive Tennessee offense last week, this unit’s opening week showing looks even better in retrospect.
Here is a look at the defensive position battles between UCLA and Utah.
Defensive Line: Tie
The Bruins will have the best defensive lineman on the field come Saturday. Laiatu Latu has been tremendous thus far, racking up four sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception to go along with seven tackles. Chip Kelly has called him one of the best pass-rushers he’s ever coached, and that’s not hyperbole.
For Utah, the front is nothing to scoff at. Jonah Elliss and Logan Fano have each tallied two sacks, and Keanu Tanuvasa has one of his own as well. While the Bruins will have the star, the Utes will have a balanced front that will make things tough for the UCLA offensive line all night long.
Linebacker: Utah
This is another battle where the stats tell one story, but the strength of the record must be taken into account. The Utah rush defense has been dominant in 2023, ranking 13th in the nation with just 67 yards allowed per game. While UCLA ranks sixth at just 59.5 per game, that’s come with big leads and against outmanned lines and runners.
Secondary: Utah
The Utah pass defense did a lot of bending, but no breaking against Florida in the season opener, and it was a similar story against Baylor. They’ll give up plenty of yards to Dante Moore on Saturday, but finding the endzone will be a different challenge for the freshman. This secondary hasn’t been perfect through three games, but it’s been far more reliable than the Bruin secondary, which ranks just 82nd in the nation against the pass.
The Utes defensive backs even get in on the pass rush, with safety Cole Bishop having already recorded two sacks in 2023.
Let’s take a look at who has the advantage on special teams and which coaching staff has the edge over the other coaching staff in this match-up.
Special Teams: Tie
Utah kicker Cole Becker’s only miss in 2023 came from 50-plus yards, a range that RJ Lopez has yet to be tested from. Both kickers have been extremely reliable through the first three weeks of the year.
Overall Edge: Utah
Kyle Whittingham’s squad is just more proven this year. These teams are very similar in a lot of statistical categories, but Utah has done so against higher-level opponents. This is UCLA’s first major test of the year, and the slight edges at many position groups, especially defensively, make this a daunting one for the Bruins.
The Utes are 4.5-point favorites on Saturday, and that’s a fair number, especially in Salt Lake. UCLA is the more explosive offensive team, however, and all it takes is a missed coverage here or there for the Bruins to turn this game on its head.
Also, this is a huge Dante Moore moment. We know he can be great against San Diego State and Coastal Carolina, but there’s still a question mark next to his name. He could go into Salt Lake, poised and calm, and truly announce his presence as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. He has the talent. If he rises to the occasion, it won’t just be a big Pac-12 win that we’re talking about. A victory here could set the Bruins on track for conference title hopes, and maybe even more than that.