Tucson, Ariz. • Utah’s football team needed Oregon to keep winning, so that nobody would mention the Utes’ undistinguished group of nonconference opponents: BYU, Northern Illinois and Idaho State.
In addition to their own winning streak that now numbers seven games, the Utes had the potential of a big-time matchup with Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game on Dec. 6. Beating another highly ranked team would have added more strength-of-schedule value to that trophy in a College Football Playoff context. But then the Ducks lost 31-28 at Arizona State on Saturday night, while Utah was thrashing Arizona 35-7.