Utah Utes quarterback Kendal Thompson is 24-for-39 passing for 284 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He ranks second on the team in rushes (42) and third in net rushing yards (144). Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
KICKOFF: Thursday, 10 p.m. ET
GAMEDATE: 10/16/14
SITE: Reser Stadium, Corvallis, Oregon
TV: Pac-12 Network
SERIES: OSU leads the series 11-6-1 after consecutive wins over the Utes, the latest of those 51-48 last season in overtime.
RANKINGS: Utah, 20th
KEYS TO THE GAME
Idle Utah moved up four spots in the AP poll to No. 20, its highest ranking since 2010.
Utah’s bye-week ascension is thanks in part to No. 1 national ranking in sacks and tackles for a loss, having a running back (Devontae Booker) with 334 yards in his last two games and a special teams unit that is the envy of every coach in the nation.
The Utes’ next challenge is winning on the road in consecutive games after beating UCLA two weeks ago to earn their ranking. In front of them is Oregon State — a respectable program that is 4-1 under veteran coach Mike Riley and always plays tough in Corvallis.
“Remember last year, we faced Stanford, took them down, and didn’t finish the deal after that?” Whittingham asked his team in the locker room after the Utes’ 30-28 win at the Rose Bowl two weeks ago. “We will finish the deal this time.”
After two bye weeks in a seven-week span, seven regular-season games remain for Utah. Five are against ranked opponents.
Whittingham reduced Utah’s practice on the field this week because of the Thursday game in Corvallis, Ore. He also wants to keep the Utes’ minds and bodies fresh as much as possible.
“That’s the balancing act that you’re working with: Get the guys back healthy and fresh, but yet don’t lose the edge that you’ve had all season,” he said.
Whittingham and his staff have yet to publicly name a starter at quarterback for the game at Oregon State despite comments last week that a decision could be made by the weekend. Media that covers Utah has speculated that Oklahoma transfer Kendal Thompson, effective in leading the Utes to the win at UCLA after replacing starter Travis Wilson in the first quarter, will get the nod.
What is known about Thursday’s game is that Utah’s defense will be tested by Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion, who threw five touchdowns last year at Rice-Eccles Stadium to upset the Utes. Wilson or Thompson will face the No. 10 team nationally in pass efficiency defense.
Oregon State has looked vulnerable against teams such as Hawaii and Colorado, and the Beavers were routed by USC in Los Angeles. But they are formidable on defense, ranked No. 28 nationally by allowing 331.4 yards a game.
Which way does the season turn for Oregon State? A lot may be decided Thursday when the Beavers (4-1, 1-1 in the Pac-12) play host to 20th-ranked Utah.
The optimistic view is that OSU controls its destiny in the Pac-12 North: Win out, and the Beavers play in the Pac-12 title game. But there is also the realistic view: OSU has three non-league wins over mediocre, at best, opposition, and it’s lone conference triumph came narrowly over Colorado, which might be the league’s weakest team.
The one quality opponent played so far was USC, and the Beavers weren’t up to the challenge.
OSU hasn’t defeated a ranked opponent in two years, but to make something of this season that has to change with four of the remaining seven foes currently in the Top 25. That includes North Division powers Stanford and Oregon, along with Arizona State and the Utes.
“You have to take the schedule as it comes,” OSU coach Mike Riley said of the challenging second half of the slate.
Granted, there are also home games against California and Washington State that offer the promise of getting to six wins and being bowl eligible, but that’s where the Beavers have been of late, trying to reach .500, the minimum standard for playing in a bowl.
Is that all there is to look forward to for OSU? Or can more be accomplished this season?
The matchup with Utah will go far in deciding that outcome.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Utes
–QB Kendal Thompson, a transfer from Oklahoma in his first season at Utah, is largely considered the starter over Trevor Wilson against Oregon State by media that covers the Utes. He is 24-for-39 passing for 284 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He ranks second on the team in rushes (42) and third in net rushing yards (144). Against UCLA two weeks ago, Thompson was 10-for-13 passing for 95 yards, including his second touchdown pass of the season (42 yards to Dres Anderson). Thompson set career highs in passing (95) and rushing (83) yards at UCLA.
–WR Dres Anderson, a senior, is the fifth receiver in Utah history to reach 2,000 career yards; he has 2,012. He leads the Utes this season with 290 receiving yards, 19.3 yards per catch and four touchdown receptions. Anderson needs 156 more yards to tie Dennis Smith (2,168 yards from 1986-89) for fourth on the career charts at Utah.
–DE Nate Orchard, a three-year starter, has played in all 42 games with 28 starts since his true freshman season. He is No. 1 on the depth chart at both right end and stud linebacker and splits his time between the two positions. Orchard has 8.5 sacks for 50 yards this season. He earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors two weeks ago for tying a school record for sacks in a game with four against UCLA. This week, he’ll be trying to get to Oregon State’s Sean Mannion, one of the league’s least mobile quarterbacks.
Beavers
–WR Richard Mullaney led OSU with 142 receiving yards in last year’s win at Utah, and with wet conditions in the forecast for Thursday, his sure hands are likely to be targeted by QB Sean Mannion. Of Mullaney’s 28 receptions this season, 12 have resulted in a touchdown or first down for the Beavers.
–DL Dylan Wynn is being listed as the starter at defensive tackle instead of his usual place at end. He’s played inside in some nickel situations as a pass rusher, but with injuries thinning the ranks at tackle, OSU’s best defensive lineman is being counted on to help on the inside on earlier downs.
–C Josh Mitchell has filled in as the starter all season, but his biggest challenge so far may come in calling blocking assignments against Utah’s active front. That’s often a matter of experience, and starting all season has helped greatly in Mitchell’s development.
