Utah Utes football: USC's 'big dogs' come to town this week

By Dirk Facer, Deseret News

Published: Saturday, Sept. 29 2012 7:14 p.m. MDT

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Summary

Although Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham usually deflects questions about games that are not next on the schedule, he made an exception at Pac-12 Media Day in July.

"Whenever we play teams from down there, I like to stick it to them," Reilly said of his Southern California roots. "But I want to win every game."

Facing USC in Salt Lake City, though, represents a coming of age for the Utah football program and membership in the Pac-12.

"The big dogs are coming to town," Reilly said.

Utah quarterback Jon Hays admits it'll be cool to see the Trojans come to town. While growing up in California, he also followed guys like Carson Palmer, Leinart and Bush.

Even so, Hays said the Utes won't be awestruck against the Trojans and their history of success.

"You've just got to look at it as another game," Hays said. "That's the conference we're in. You've got all these teams there."

EXTRA POINTS: USC defeated Utah 23-14 in the Pac-12's inaugural game last year at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. ... The Trojans lead the all-times series with the Utes, 7-3. However, they split the only two meetings in Salt Lake City. Utah prevailed 20-13 in 1915. USC bounced back to win 51-0 in 1917. ... The Trojans have won 11 national championships.

Pac-12 home opener

USC (3-1, 1-1) at Utah (2-2, 0-1)

Rice-Eccles Stadium

Thursday, 7 p.m.

TV: ESPN Radio: ESPN 700

Email: dirk@desnews.com, Twitter: @DirkFacer

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TroyTown

Anaheim, CA

After the beat down in the Valley of the Sun, I don't see the Utes having much of a chance against the Trojans, especially if you consider recruiting rankings, which some of our friends on the hill seem to consider the end-all-be-all of college More..

9:22 a.m. Sept. 30, 2012
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GoRed

WEST VALLEY CITY, UT

@duckhunter-sammy

Just couldn't resist, could you? While Utah is gearing up to play the pre-season #1 team in the country, BYU is beating up on a pathetic Hawaii team thay couldn't beat half of the high school teams in Utah. More..

11:25 a.m. Sept. 30, 2012
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Duckhunter

Highland, UT

I don't often make predictions about games but I can see this game being very ugly for utah. They match up basicly nowhere with the trojans in talent. This won't be a rude awakening like utah "fans" received against asu, I think More..

9:15 a.m. Sept. 30, 2012
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