Utah Utes 2007 schedule, overview

Date ... Opponent ... Time (TV)

Aug. 30 ... at Oregon St. ... 8 p.m. (FSN)

Sept. 8 ... Air Force ... 4 p.m. (MTN)

Sept. 15 ... UCLA ... 3 p.m. (VS)

Sept. 22 ... at UNLV ... 8 p.m. (MTN)

Sept. 29 ... Utah St. ... 1 p.m. (MTN)

Oct. 5 ... at Louisville ... 6 p.m. (ESPN)

Oct. 13 ... San Diego St. ... 1 p.m. (None)

Oct. 18 ... at TCU ... 6 p.m. (VS)

Oct. 27 ... at Colorado St. ... 3:30 p.m. (MTN)

Nov. 10 ... Wyoming ... 1:30 p.m. (CSTV)

Nov. 17 ... New Mexico ... 3:30 p.m. (MTN)

Nov. 24 ... at BYU ... Noon (CSTV/MTN)

All times MST

3 KEY GAMES

• vs. UCLA (Sept. 15) — The Utes need a good start in their season-opener at Oregon State, but this is the most important nonconference game of the year. Utah will be playing a Pac-10 team at home in what will be the Utes' best chance to garner some national attention, especially if the Bruins can maintain their preseason national ranking.

• at COLORADO STATE (Oct. 27) — Early MWC losses have derailed the Utes' conference title hopes the past few years. If Utah hopes to be in contention for the championship entering November, it has to win this road game. With a game at TCU the previous week and the rivalry rematch in Provo looming, the Utes can't afford a letdown in this game against the Rams.

• vs. NEW MEXICO (Nov. 17) — The BYU-Utah game will always be the biggest of the year, but it will lose some significance if the Utes can't beat the Lobos the week before. Utah is just 1-4 the past five years against New Mexico, and Rocky Long always has his team playing well at the end of the season.

3 PLAYERS TO WATCH

• YVENSON BERNARD, RB, Oregon State — Utah's run defense will be tested early by the 5-9, 201-pound senior. The first-team all-conference back was fourth in the Pac-10 in all-purpose yardage (121.8) in 2006. In addition to rushing for 1,307 yards last year, he was also the team's second-leading receiver, averaging six receptions per game.

• BRUCE DAVIS, DE, UCLA — The Utes have high hopes for their offense, but if they want to upset the Bruins, they'll have to contain this first-team All-American. Davis, a 6-3, 234-pound senior, had 12.5 sacks and forced three fumbles in 2006. He's the son of former Raiders and Oilers offensive lineman Bruce Davis.

• MARIO URRUTIA, WR, Louisville — Everyone knows who will be throwing the football for Louisville. But this junior will help test an unproven Utah secondary. Urrutia (No. 7 pictured above) was the second-leading receiver on the team last year but still managed 973 yards and six touchdowns. At 6-6, he's an imposing receiver.