Utah aims to stay unbeaten against surging Brigham Young

Utah holds a 10-5 edge in the series with Brigham Young since 2007 and has won 7 of the last 10 meetings, a history that now finds both programs near the top of the Versus rankings as they square off in a Big 12 game that counts fully in the conference standings. Utah enters at No. 2 in FBS and Brigham Young at No. 11, a pairing of ranked teams that reflects how far each has climbed this season.

Utah is 8-0 and carries an A+ grade in every major category, with a power rank of 9, an offensive rank of 9 and a defensive rank of 10. Brigham Young is 7-1 and graded A overall, with A- marks on both sides of the ball, and the Cougars reached as high as No. 1 in the Versus rankings earlier this season, their highest placement on record. Brigham Young has also gone 3-1 in one-score games this year, a sign they can hang in tight finishes even against stronger competition.

Versus projects Utah to win 32-21, giving the Utes a 75 percent chance and an 11-point margin. Utah's strength of schedule rank of 22 compares favorably to Brigham Young's 42, part of why the unbeaten Utes remain the clear favorite even against a one-loss opponent playing some of its best football in years.