Utah Utes football: MWC title Utes' top priority

SAN DIEGO — If all goes as planned, Utah will leave Qualcomm Stadium tonight with a little hardware. The eighth-ranked Utes (10-0, 6-0) can claim at least a share of the Mountain West Conference title with a victory over injury-riddled San Diego State (1-9, 0-6).

"That would be a very nice accolade for our players, something they have worked hard for," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "We're on track, but we've got two football games left, and we've just got to keep the work ethic and keep the focus that we've had through the first 10 weeks of the season."

The prospect of winning the conference title for the first time since 2004 is Utah's prime motivation right now. Next week's game against BYU, the national rankings and Bowl Championship Series possibilities are all on the back burner.

"We just play week-to-week," Whittingham said. "We're just trying to beat San Diego State this week and we'll see what happens."

The Utes, he added, are determined not to get ahead of themselves.

They had a good week of practices and are taking the same approach that has worked all season long.

This week, though, is a little different. Utah is playing for a championship.

Cornerback Sean Smith acknowledged winning the MWC crown is the team's top priority. The players got together before the season started and made it their biggest goal.

"We all want this conference championship. We haven't had one since '04," Smith said. "Knowing that we can win a piece of it this week is all we're looking for, regardless of who we play next week or the BCS. None of that. We want this championship first and foremost."

Utah controls its own fate. A win over SDSU will give the Utes at least a piece of it. Season-ending victories over the Aztecs and BYU would make it an outright title, Utah's third since 2003.

The first hurdle is an SDSU team that has started 40 different players this season. Only seven starters have played in all 10 games.

"They are decimated by injuries and have lost a lot of good players," Whittingham said. "Nonetheless, we have to play our game and stay focused. Nothing is on our mind except them."

EXTRA POINTS: Utah leads the all-time series with SDSU by a 14-12-1 margin. The Utes have won seven of the past nine meetings.... Utah enters the game with 11 consecutive wins, a streak that began last December at Qualcomm Stadium with a 35-32 victory over Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl.... The Utes defeated the Aztecs 23-7 last season at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Utes on the air

No. 8 Utah (10-0, 6-0) at San Diego St. (1-9, 0-6)

Today, 6 p.m. (MT)

Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego

TV: The mtn. Radio: 700 AM

Live game blogs: deseretnews.com/blogs

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E-mail: dirk@desnews.com