By the end of the work week, we will know with absolute certainty whether the Oregon Ducks or the Utah Utes will be crowned Pac-12 Champions. The matchup between these two sides has been seemingly destined since the preseason, when both teams were picked by members of the Pac-12 media to represent their respective divisions in the Pac-12 Championship Game this Friday in Santa Clara, California.

For Utah, the opportunity to play in Friday’s championship game wasn’t solidified until this past Saturday, as the Utes needed to beat Colorado in Salt Lake City in order to secure their trip to the Bay Area to face the Ducks. For Oregon, their ticket to the championship game has been more or less punched for the last month and a half, as Mario Cristobal’s bunch essentially wrapped up the Pac-12 North title after their win over Washington in Seattle back on October 19.

Unfortunately for Oregon, the last few weeks they’ve performed like a team that has kind of kicked its feet up and wanted to press fast forward in order to reach this moment as quickly as possible. Underwhelming performances, particularly on offense, against Arizona State on the road (a loss) and vs. Oregon State at home (a win) the last two weeks has left a sour taste in mouths of many as they consider Oregon’s chances vs. the Utes.

As a week filled with intrigue and speculation unfolds, WFOD takes a closer look at the Ducks’ Pac-12 Championship Game opponent in Utah.

Utah Utes

2019 record: 11-1 overall, 8-1 in Pac-12
Last game: 45-15 win vs. Colorado
Ranking: 6th in College Football Playoff/5th in AP Poll/5th in Coaches’ Poll
All-time record vs. Oregon: 10-22
When and where to watch: Friday, Dec. 6 at 5:14 p.m. (Pacific), ABC

Items of note:

• A Utah win would give the Utes their first win in a conference championship game
• Utah has scored 30 or more points 10 times this year, the most games scoring 30+ points since 2008. They’ve also been dominant on the defensive side of the ball, as the Utes have held 11 of their 12 opponents to under 100 yards rushing and have outscored their opponents 193-61 in the second half this season.
• Oregon’s appearance in the Pac-12 Championship Game is its third since the game was added in 2011 and its first since 2014. The Ducks’ three appearances are the second-most in the conference behind Stanford’s four, while they are one of three teams to win the title game twice.
• Oregon has won 13 of its last 15 games, while its 19 wins and 13 Pac-12 victories over the last two years under head coach Mario Cristobal are the second most in the league behind…Utah
• A win for Oregon would be the program’s first over a top five team since the 2015 Rose Bowl against No. 2 Florida State

Five Utah names you should know:

5. Julian Blackmon (DB)

The Utes get tremendous veteran leadership from all three levels of their defense, and few areas on the roster better exemplify that than in the secondary where Julian Blackmon serves as that unit’s most respected elder statesman. And the respect has been well deserved, as the former two-time All-Pac-12 cornerback made the transition to safety this season only to turn in perhaps his most productive season yet. The senior is currently tied for the Pac-12 lead in interceptions (4) with six other players, while also tying for the team in fumbles forced (2). In addition to that, Blackmon ranks fourth on the team in tackles (56), which has included three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He’s as well rounded a defensive back as you’ll find in the Pac-12, and he’ll be someone the Ducks will want to have a bead on when they take the field on offense.

4. Jaylon Johnson (CB)

If the presence of Julian Blackmon wasn’t enough, the Ducks will also have to contend with perhaps the best cornerback in the conference in Jaylon Johnson. The junior from Fresno is another in a long line of talented defensive backs to hail from the San Joaquin Valley, and it’s possible he may turn out to be the best in time. In the present, he’s a reigning first-team All-Pac-12 corner who has only validated the hype after arriving in Salt Lake City with as one of the highest-rated prospects to ever sign with Utah. Standing 6-feet and 195 pounds, Johnson matches up well just about any wide receiver a team can throw out there, which he has proved with his 12 passes defended (including two interceptions) this season – a mark that ranks him fourth in the Pac-12 entering Friday’s game. Oregon will need to have success throwing the ball if they’re to take home the Pac-12 title, but Johnson is perhaps the last person Justin Herbert wants to see as he attempts to break out of a recent two-game slump.

3. Bradlee Anae (DL)

In reality we should just give this spot to the entire Utah defensive line, but then this weekly in-season series would be called “Five Utah position groups to know” instead. As much as Leki Fotu, Mika Tafua, and John Penisini deserve their their moment in the spotlight, Bradlee Anae is undoubtedly the group’s frontman and driving force behind their legitimate recognition as one of the top defensive line units in the country. Currently second in the Pac-12 behind Oregon State’s Hamilcar Rashed in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (12.5), Anae is a more than a handful as a 6-foot-3, 265-pound nightmare. Not only is Anae a pass rushing force, but he’s stout enough to hold his own and be an asset against the run. Oregon’s offensive line has faced an elite-tier defensive line once already this season in Auburn. They’ll need to bring that same level of energy, execution, and enthusiasm in order to neutralize a group that will be every bit as formidable.

2. Zack Moss (RB)

Defense is the banner in which the Utes march under, but it’s the leaps forward made by the Utah offense that makes this team a legitimate College Football Playoff contender. Some of that credit goes to Tyler Huntley, who we’ll get to in a moment, but a similarly significant portion of the credit also goes running back Zack Moss. At 5-foot-10 and 222 pounds, Moss is built like a muscle-bound filing cabinet on roller skates and is just as difficult to tackle. He’s the physical embodiment of the Utah program and is the engine behind its success. His 1,246 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns this season leads the Pac-12 by a wide margin in both categories, and he’ll get a chance to add to those tallies this Friday. Last year, Moss was enjoying a similarly impressive season before a knee injury suffered in practice the week of the Oregon game prevented him from facing the Ducks and closing out his season in style. This time around he’ll get his opportunity to take on an Oregon defense that has been terrific against the run this season, but has yet to face a talent quite like Moss.

1. Tyler Huntley (QB)

If Zack Moss is the engine in the proverbial car that is the Utah offense, then quarterback Tyler Huntley is the vehicle’s precision steering system. Known primarily for his abilities as a runner when he first arrived in Salt Lake City, Huntley has gradually remade himself over the course of his Utah career and is now rightfully considered as one of, if not the best, quarterbacks in the Pac-12. Though Huntley remains a threat when flushed from the pocket, he is more than effective as a passer. In fact, despite all the quarterback talent in the conference this season, Huntley ranks as the Pac-12’s leader in both completion percentage (75.5) and quarterback rating (188.65), marks that rank second and fifth, respectively, among quarterbacks nationally. The efficiency numbers are also backed up by his volume stats, as Huntley has thrown for 2,773 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. Somehow finding a way to get Huntley out of rhythm would be a big first step for the Ducks if they hope to spring the upset.

Top Photo: Utah QB Tyler Huntley (Rick Bowmer/AP Photo)