GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Utah maintained its status as the top defensive team in the Pac-12 (264.8 yards allowed per game) after last week’s loss at Washington State, which is not good news for a struggling Stanford offense ranked No. 11 in total offense in the conference averaging 340.4 yards a game. Stanford has struggled running the ball (94.4 yards a game) despite having RB Bryce Love while Utah tops the Pac-12 allowing only 83.8 yards a game on the ground.
DRAFT SLANT
–LB Chase Hansen, a converted strong safety, led Utah with seven tackles last week at Washington State. Two of the tackles were for loss.
ROSTER REPORT:
–LB Francis Bernard, who missed two games for eligibility reasons after transferring from BYU, returned to action in a limited role last week at Washington State.
–C Lo Falemaka left last week’s game in the first quarter with an apparent leg injury and did not return. He watched the second half utilizing crutches. He won’t play Saturday at Stanford 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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