PROVO — A perfect record. A high national ranking. A high-scoring, quick-strike offense. A Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback. An abundance of national media attention while belonging to a conference hungering for respect. An opportunity to make history.

The Utah Utes? Yeah. But that description also fit the BYU Cougars — in 1984. It's a little like deja vu all over again.

They're separated by 20 years and a fierce rivalry, but the 2004 Utes and the 2004 BYU Cougars have plenty in common. Before realizing their lofty dreams, the '04 Utes have to get past BYU this Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium, just like the '84 Cougars had to get past the Utes two decades ago at the same stadium before eventually claiming the national championship.

Nobody understands what Utah is going through better than Robbie Bosco, who quarterbacked BYU to the 1984 national title and is now a fund-raiser in the school's athletic department. He sees the parallels between the two teams.

"They're playing like one of the best teams in the country," Bosco said of this year's version of the Utes. "They have the ability to score and the ability to make stops, like we had. They are solid all around, like we were. As Utah continues to win, teams ahead of them in the polls are losing that they need to lose. That's kind of what happened to us in 1984. We needed a lot of help from other teams and Utah's in a similar boat."

Indeed, the similarities between what's considered the best Utah team in history and what's considered the best BYU team in history are plentiful. The Utes have junior quarterback Alex Smith, a Heisman Trophy candidate. BYU had Bosco, a junior QB and Heisman Trophy candidate. Utah owns an undefeated record (10-0) and a top-5 ranking (No. 5). Going into the Utah game in 1984, BYU had an undefeated record (10-0) and a top-5 ranking (No. 3).

Come to think of it, there are similarities between the 1984 Utes and the 2004 Cougars, too. BYU's 2004 squad has a 5-5 record and needs a win Saturday to qualify for a bowl game. Utah's 1984 team was 6-4-1 and needed a win for any hope of a bowl invitation. Just as the future of current BYU coach Gary Crowton hangs in the balance, then-Utah coach Chuck Stobart was feeling pressure to win in order to keep his job. The goal of both teams? To be the Ultimate Spoilers.