GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Arizona needs balance offensively. It must be productive with its running game to allow QB Khalil Tate to be more effective with his passing, but Utah’s strength is defending the run. The Utes, led by LB Chase Hansen’s 10 tackles for loss, rank third nationally and No. 1 in the Pac-12, allowing only 75.4 rushing yards a game. Arizona, with RB JJ Taylor’s 600 yards on 104 carries, is ranked third in the conference in rushing at 201.8 yards a game. Expect the Utes to load up on the line and force Tate to beat them amid one-on-one coverage.
DRAFT SLANT
–LB Chase Hansen, a converted strong safety, leads the Utes with 43 tackles, 30 of them solo stops. He has 10 tackles for loss, which ranks 12th nationally. Coming off nine tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss, in Utah’s win at Stanford last week.
ROSTER REPORT:
–LB Francis Bernard, who missed two games for eligibility reasons after transferring from BYU, has returned to action in a limited role in the last two weeks against Washington State and Stanford with two tackles.
–C Lo Falemaka is nursing an apparent leg injury suffered at Washington State two weeks ago. He did not play at Stanford last week, but he is not lost for the season, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.
–RB Devonta’e Henry-Cole, a sophomore, was lost for the season with a recurring arm injury suffered again during fall camp. He will have two years of eligibility remaining when he returns next season.
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