UCLA coach Chip Kelly, left, and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham snigger earlier than a sport Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Salt Lake Metropolis. The No. 18-ranked Bruins and No. 11-ranked Utes meet Saturday in Pasadena. Rick Bowmer, Related Press
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly converses with UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson throughout a sport in opposition to South Alabama in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Ashley Landis, Related Press
LOS ANGELES — With every passing week, the stakes get greater.
For No. 11 Utah, which is seeking to repeat as Pac-12 champions, a win Saturday (1:30 p.m. MDT, Fox) in opposition to No. 18 UCLA on the Rose Bowl could be an enormous step towards one other convention title — and maybe one other journey to Pasadena and the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, 2023.
“We all know we beat Washington final week due to our preparation through the week. We all know if we’re going to beat Utah, it’s going to be due to our preparation through the week. Issues don’t simply occur to you, hope isn’t a technique.” — UCLA coach Chip Kelly
However, in fact, the Utes aren’t taking a big-picture strategy. For now, it’s all in regards to the Bruins.
“You don’t wish to have a look at it that approach however you understand at the back of your head that every week is getting greater and larger since you have a look at the schedule and also you have a look at the opponent and also you have a look at what they’ve performed,” stated Ute working again Micah Bernard. “You may see it. However if you wish to be an ideal staff, it doesn’t matter who you play. It's a must to play your sport.”
UCLA, in the meantime, is searching for its first Pac-12 crown since 1998.
In previous seasons, coach Chip Kelly’s groups has had excessive expectations, solely to falter.
Final 12 months, neither Utah nor UCLA had been ranked after they met at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes gained 44-24 and ended up capturing the Pac-12 championship.
Can the Bruins, who beat beforehand undefeated Washington final week and jumped into the rankings for the primary time this season, make the most of this chance in opposition to the defending Pac-12 champs?
“That’s the golden query, that’s what we’re right here to search out out throughout this week. That’s a part of the entire thing. The rating’s good and I feel it’s good for these guys and they need to be pleased with that, however after you’re ranked, there’s actually nothing else,” Kelly stated this week. “You don’t get a trophy, you don’t get one thing handed to you, you gotta return to work.
“We all know we beat Washington final week due to our preparation through the week. We all know if we’re going to beat Utah, it’s going to be due to our preparation through the week. Issues don’t simply occur to you, hope isn’t a technique. You gotta put the work in; up to now these guys have performed that.
“So we’ll see how the tides have turned somewhat bit from that standpoint, however we’re not the highest-ranked staff on this sport, we’re enjoying in opposition to a higher-ranked staff and the defending champs within the convention. So I feel that’s bought all people’s consideration.”
5 video games into the season, coach Kyle Whittingham likes the regular enchancment his staff, which is driving a four-game successful streak, has made.
“I feel we’ve gotten higher every week since Week 1. We’ve talked about how we didn’t play our greatest soccer in Week 1,” he stated. “We’ve taken a step ahead each single week, this previous week included. If you wish to attempt to win a championship, that’s bought to occur. You’ve bought to have the ability to be on that upward trajectory from Sport 1 to Sport 12.”
“We’ve performed good,” stated quarterback Cam Rising. “I imply, we dropped one (sport) in order that’s not one thing you ever wish to have. We’ve bought to maintain the ball rolling. We’ve bought to maintain getting higher. That’s the principle objective, actually.”
Saturday marks Utah’s second sport with out star tight finish Brant Kuithe. Final week in opposition to Oregon State, Rising accomplished passes to eight totally different receivers — finishing 19 of 25 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns.
“I really feel like his greatest development for my part is sharing the wealth. I really feel like he’s going by means of his reads much more. He’s getting much more guys concerned,” receiver Devaughn Vele stated about Rising. “That’s one thing that helps offenses thrive when all people is getting concerned. We’re at all times working our routes as a result of we’re anticipating the ball to come back to us, not as a result of we all know he’s going to go right here however as a result of it’s the place it’s purported to go.”
Rising rushed seven instances for 73 yards and a TD in opposition to the Beavers.
“And him working the ball, among the strikes he’s making, he’s wanting like a working again on the market,” Vele stated. “It’s very spectacular to see him not solely throw the ball properly, and play it good as properly, but additionally working the ball successfully.”
Vele stated the Utes have progressed because the season-opening setback at Florida.
“We’re simply ensuring we’re doing what we’ve bought to do. Clearly, the Week 1 loss was a troublesome one. We want we might get that sport again. We undoubtedly discovered lots from it,” he stated. “The previous 4 weeks, we’ve discovered what our id as an offense is after which coping with adversity with dropping (tight finish) Brant (Kuithe) and understanding that guys gotta step up. It’s coming collectively offensively particularly. It helps lots when the protection is doing good as properly.”
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly converses with UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson throughout a sport in opposition to South Alabama in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Ashley Landis, Related Press
Defensively, UCLA’s offense poses a troublesome problem with playmakers like quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, working again Zach Charbonnet and extensive receiver Jake Bobo.
“We’ve bought to attempt to hold the quarterback contained and from extending performs,” Whittingham stated. “He’s actually harmful when he extends performs and will get out within the open, both throwing the ball on the run or tucking it and working it himself. Now we have to maintain him contained one of the best we will.”
“DTR has gotten lots higher. He’s making extra correct throws and he’s finishing extra passes,” stated Utes defensive again Zemaiah Vaughn. “He was already good within the run sport. They’re a great staff. We’re not going to (overlook) them.”
Whittingham famous that Kelly’s offense has lots of weapons and a few wrinkles.
“Chip’s bought his personal distinctive type of doing issues. They run lots of the identical base performs that another groups run however he’s bought his stamp on it every week. Their quarterback is enjoying exceptionally properly,” Whittingham stated. “Their offensive line is rock-solid. Their massive receiver is a troublesome matchup. Their working again is proficient — massive, quick, sturdy. Defensively, they've lots of athletes and so they run arduous and play good soccer on that aspect of the ball. Proper now, they’re a whole staff. They’re scoring over 40 every week and so they’re 500 yards of whole (offense) every week.”
UCLA has misplaced 5 consecutive video games in opposition to the Utes. However the Bruins are 5-0 for the primary time since 2013.
“They’ve bought lots going for them and it’s straightforward to see why they’re undefeated at this level,” Whittingham stated about UCLA.
Every week, the stakes hold getting greater.
Utes on the air
No. 11 Utah (4-1, 2-0)
at No. 18 UCLA (5-0, 2-0)
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. MDT
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
TV: Fox
Radio: ESPN 700