Salt Lake City, UT - 9/2/10 - The University of Utah football season begins tonight as the No. 24 ranked Utes host No. 15 Pittsburgh from the Big East Conference.  Kickoff is 6:30 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.  The game will be televised on VERSUS.

The Utes carry a 17 game winning streak at home and hope for a solid start to their final year in the MWC before moving to the PAC 10 next season.  Utah has a three game home winning streak against ranked opponents, beating  No. 11 UCLA in 2007, No. TCU in 2008 and No. 16 BYU also in 2008.

The Ute offense, led by quarterback Jordan Wynn, will go up against a defense that was ranked 19th in scoring defense and 23rd in total defense last year.  Pitt led the nation last season with 3.62 sacks per game.  The Utes bring a potent two-back running attack with Matt Asiata and Eddie Wide and will be running more plays for their experienced tight ends.  

Utah's defense will focus on running back Dion Lewis who ran for 1,779 yards and 17 touchdowns in his freshman season.  Only Pitt great Tony Dorsett ran for more yards in a single season for the Panthers.  The Utes return several starters on the defensive side to counter Lewis. An area of possible concern for Utah is a relatively inexperienced defensive secondary.

 

Ute injury report:

Running back Sausan Shakerin is out with a concussion and linebacker J.J. Williams is questionable with a foot injury

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