Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said the 20th-ranked Utes seem to be focused on the task at hand – Saturday's home game against UNLV.

"They better be. It's the Mountain West Conference opener and every week is important," he said after Wednesday's practice. "There's no weeks that are less important than others and so they've got to be ready to play each and every week. And all indications are to this point that they understand that."

In other news:

– Quarterback Jordan Wynn, who still has a splint on his sprained right thumb, declined to comment on his status for Saturday.

– Whittingham noted that Shaky Smithson, who lost the ball twice in the Pitt game, will resume his duties as a receiver and returning kicks. He expressed confidence in the senior.

– The public is invited to attend Whittingham's radio show with ESPN 700's Bill Riley Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Trolley Square plaza.