Utes look to go 3-0 for first time since '04

As far as long-running rivalries go, few have been more lopsided lately than the one in northern Utah.

Looking to extend its dominance over Utah State, No. 22 Utah visits Logan on Saturday night looking for its 11th straight win over its non-conference rival.

Utah State took the first meeting between the teams in 1892, winning 12-0, but that was hardly a sign of things to come. The Utes have won more than 70 percent of their games against the Aggies, going 75-28-4 in 107 meetings.

That includes early season victories each of the last 10 years, during which time Utah has outscored Utah State 340-117. The Utes have won each of the last six meetings by at least 16 points, with an average margin of 37-9 over that span.

Things don't figure to be much different this time around, with Utah (2-0) back in the Top 25 and Utah State (0-2) off to another dismal start.

After their 25-23 season-opening win at Michigan on Aug. 30, the Utes avoided a letdown against UNLV on Saturday, kicking off their Mountain West Conference schedule with a 42-21 win.

Brian Johnson passed for 183 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 80 yards and another score for Utah, which broke a 14-14 halftime tie with 28 straight points to start the second half.

"After that start, our coaches jumped down our throat a little bit and it worked because we woke up and found ourselves," defensive end Paul Kruger said. "We came out with the energy and the fight we needed in the second half. We were flying around and made the plays we should have been making in the first half."

The Utes will be looking for their first 3-0 start since 2004, when they finished 12-0 and beat Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl. Utah, though, is still seeking its first complete effort of the season.

After taking a 22-10 halftime lead on Michigan, the Utes struggled to hang on in the second half. The first half was the problem against UNLV, as Utah fell behind 14-7 and only managed to go into the locker room tied after a touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter.

"In the end, we scored 42 points," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said, "and you're not going to lose many games when you score 42 points."

Utah's offensive success has been due largely to Johnson. The senior threw for 305 yards in Ann Arbor, then broke off a 56-yard touchdown run against the Rebels.

"I think Brian Johnson is playing as well as anyone we have watched so far offensively," Utah State coach Brent Guy said. "Against Michigan he threw the ball very well and accurate. Last week against UNLV it was his legs. So I think he is showing that he is still very much a dual threat."

That doesn't bode well for Utah State, which allowed 688 yards of offense to then-No. 18 Oregon in a 66-24 loss to the Ducks on Saturday. Oregon rolled up more than 400 yards on the ground against a defense that allowed an average of nearly 200 rushing yards last season.

The Aggies, 6-31 under Guy, have dropped 18 of their last 20 games overall and seven straight at home. They've also lost 20 consecutive games against ranked teams, falling to 1-45 versus Top 25 opponents.

In six games against ranked teams under Guy, Utah State has been outscored 308-77.