UCLA Football: 3 reasons the Bruins will upset No. 11 Utah

It may be the last season of the Pac-12 as we know it, but through three weeks, it’s also shaping up to be the best. Arguably the best game of Week 3 will be played in Salt Lake on Saturday, as 22nd-ranked UCLA football travels to Rice-Eccles Stadium for a showdown with the 11th-ranked Utah Utes.

Both teams enter this matchup undefeated, but Kyle Whittingham’s Utes have compiled a much better resume in this young season. Through three games, Utah has wins over Florida and Baylor, along with an FCS tune-up against Weber State. UCLA has handled business against an easier slate, defeating Coastal Carolina, San Diego State, and North Carolina Central.

Whittingham and Utah have become an institution in the sport, fielding tough teams that play strong defense and fundamental football year in and year out. They are once again that kind of team in 2023.

UCLA, meanwhile, has gotten better every year under Chip Kelly. He’s brought his wide-open offense to Los Angeles and, in his sixth season as the Bruin head man, has a program that is now fully shaped in his image.

The Bruins have all kinds of momentum heading into this matchup, and while Utah may be the favorite at home, there are a lot of factors that point toward a UCLA victory.

Let’s break down the reasons a Bruin upset is on the horizon.