Utah game day

No. 11 UCLA (2-0) at UTAH (0-2)

Today, 3 p.m. — Rice-Eccles Stadium (45,017) — Salt Lake City — FieldTurf

Ticket information: About 4,000 remain. Only single seats remain in chair-back sections.<

TV: Versus (Comcast Ch. 34, DirecTV Ch. 603, Dish Network Ch. 151) — Radio: 700AM

PLAYER TO WATCH

BEN OLSON, QB: The former BYU redshirt finally makes his Utah debut. The sophomore, who transferred to UCLA after serving an LDS Church mission, made his first collegiate start against the Utes last season in the Rose Bowl. He completed his first nine passes and led the Bruins to a 31-10 victory.

KEY MATCHUP

UTAH GROUND GAME vs. UCLA RUN DEFENSE: The Utes enter the contest averaging just 45.5 yards per game on the ground — 111th in the nation. UCLA's rushing defense, meanwhile, is holding opponents to just 48 yards per game.

THE STAKES

For UCLA ... The Bruins are ranked 11th and could crack the top 10 with a win. They could use the momentum going into upcoming Pac-10 games against Washington and Oregon State.

For Utah ... The injury-plagued Utes hope to avoid starting the season 0-3. The last time things started off so slowly was in 2000, when they wound up losing their first four games and finished 4-7.

THE TRENDS

For UCLA ... The Bruins, who are making their first appearance in Salt Lake City since 1974, are 8-0 all-time against Utah. UCLA and Washington are the only Pac-10 teams Utah has never beaten.

For Utah ... Injuries. The Utes have lost key contributors in each of their two games this season. Matt Asiata and Brian Johnson went down in the opener at Oregon State, while Brent Casteel and Gabe Long were hurt against Air Force.

THE EDGE

UCLA will win if ... Kahlil Bell, the Pac-10's leading rusher (137 ypg), is able to run wild on a rush defense that ranks 113th nationally. The Utes are giving up 287.5 yards per game on the ground.

Utah will win if ... the Utes have a near-perfect outing on both sides of the ball. Establishing a run game and defending UCLA's ground scheme are top priorities.

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

Aug. 30 . . . . at Oregon St. . . . . L, 24-7
Sept. 8 . . . . Air Force . . . . L, 20-12
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 Mountain

NEXT UP UNLV (1-1) faces No. 24 Hawaii today at 7:30 p.m. (MTN) in Vegas.

UCLA

OFFENSE