In a rivalry game that meant more to one team than it did to the other, but that ended up accelerating the less-needy outfit toward its real goal, barely, Utah went ahead and did what it does, what it has made a habit of doing, on Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The Utes are, and on this occasion were, the better team, by the thin count of 35-27. They were inferior for most of the game, in almost every way. They trailed 13-zip in the first quarter, 20-nothing at the half, 27-7 late in the third.
And then, regaining their form, they ruled the night, storming back to hard-fought victory, their defense stiffening, their offense at last finding rhythm.