SALT LAKE CITY — Breaking down No. 25 Utah's 24-14 home win against Utah State on Friday night:
THE BIG PICTURE: There was little easy about the Utes' victory, but this wasn’t unexpected: Utah State’s defense alone makes it a tough out, while the long-running rivalry lends itself to a four-quarter affair. The Utes still have some clear issues to address before kicking off Pac-12 Conference play against Oregon on Sept. 26. One is an offense that lacks balance between the run and the pass. Another is the Utes’ special teams, which ranked among the nation’s best in 2014 but have been spotty through two weeks.