Ever since Utah launched Pac-12 play in 2011 by losing its first four conference football games, the Utes gradually worked their way toward a .500 record.
Utah’s break-even moment in the nine seasons could come Saturday at Washington, where the No. 9 Utes will face one of their toughest tests of this season. A win, coupled with a USC loss to No. 7 Oregon, would give Utah command of the Pac-12 South race and bring Rose Bowl possibilities into realistic view.
Winning in Seattle would be especially significant, because the Utes have beaten the Huskies only once in seven meetings in this decade, counting the loss in last November’s Pac-12 championship game.