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Utah Football: 3 takeaways from Utes’ steamrolling of the USC Trojans

By Andrew Miller

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Tyler Huntley #1 of the Utah Utes passes in the first half of a game against the Washington Huskies at Rice-Eccles Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Tyler Huntley #1 of the Utah Utes passes in the first half of a game against the Washington Huskies at Rice-Eccles Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

2. PAC-12 South is Utah’s to lose

The PAC-12 South looks like it will be a log jam from here on out. Utah and USC were the teams set to take control of this division, but neither is anywhere close to spotless in conference play this year. USC entered the day with a one game lead over teams like Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. Now, USC could be in similar shoes to that of the UCLA Bruins depending on how Chip Kelly’s squad finishes up against Arizona.

Moreover, with Colorado’s loss to the Washington Huskies and the roller coaster ride of Arizona thus far, Utah could be the clear favorite now. Utah football is trending up and is setting itself apart from the rest of the division. If USC keeps slipping and Utah stays on this pace, it will start to run away with the PAC-12 South crown.

The PAC-12 North is looking a lot stronger than its cross conference counterpart with teams like the Washington Huskies, Stanford, and Washington State taking hold at the top. Utah and USC are fringe-top 25 teams at best. The way USC is coming out of this loss to the Utes, that’s even a generous label.

Putting together a consistent run through the upcoming schedule at the end of the 2018 regular season can put Utah football in a position to contend for a spot in the PAC-12 Championship Game. Utah does have two winnable games in the next two weeks to start establishing a solid spot atop the PAC-12 South in UCLA and the Arizona State Sun Devils.

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