The Pac-12 was the most exciting conference in the country through the first month of the season. That continues Friday night when No. 19 Oregon State hosts No. 10 Utah in Corvallis, Ore., for a top-25 test with significant conference and national implications. Reser Stadium is an underrated home gem, and the magnitude of Friday’s showdown will shake the building as the Beavers and Utes square off in front of a national audience.
Looking for a potential Pac-12 three-peat, the Utes are off to an impressive 4-0 start after a defensive slog against previously unbeaten UCLA. Utah built a 14-point lead in the first half and secured the win by forcing UCLA to lean on freshman quarterback Dante Moore. Utah’s defense set the tone on Moore’s first pass attempt of the game with a 21-yard pick six from linebacker Karene Reid.
The status of Utah’s star quarterback Cameron Rising is still uncertain as he recovers from his knee injury. He appeared against UCLA last week but did not play. If he can’t go, the Utes will turn to Nate Johnson, who completed 9 of 17 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in the Week 4 win.
Oregon State is coming off its first loss of the season, a 38-35 rout of Washington State in the first ranked game in the 98-game history of the storied rivalry. Oregon State fell behind by three touchdowns early in the fourth quarter and, despite a late surge, was unable to complete the comeback.
Follow along LIVE updates and highlights from Utah’s game at Oregon State.
How to watch Utah vs. Oregon State live
Date: Friday, September 29th | Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Reser Stadium – Corvallis, Oregon
TV: FS1 | Live broadcast: fubo (Try for free)
Utah vs. Oregon State: What you need to know
How does Oregon State respond? DJ Uiagalelei had a career five-touchdown performance in his Oregon State debut against San Jose State, but the Clemson transfer quarterback has regressed. Over the last two games, Uiagalelei totaled just four touchdowns and three interceptions, including a costly one against the Cougars. Oregon State’s winning formula is its lethal rushing attack, led by star RB Damien Martinez. Going up against a stout Utah defense will be their biggest test yet, and the Beavers will have to take care of the ball.
The status of Rising remains open: The status of Utah’s star quarterback before Friday is still uncertain. Rising has been recovering from a torn ACL following the Rose Bowl loss to Penn State in January. Johnson and Bryson Barnes represented the Utes well, but Rising must return for the Utes to be serious Pac-12 title contenders. One of Rising’s greatest strengths is its agility, which is tested with every return.
Utah’s defense was completely out of action: After four weeks of play, Utah is one of the best defensive units in college football. The Utes rank 6th among all teams in scoring defense with 9.5 points per game and are tied with UCLA for 9th in total yards allowed. Utah has relied on its defense to win, and it has succeeded so far. It remains to be seen how long this can continue without Rising.
Utah vs. Oregon State prediction, tips
SportsLine consensus odds
Promotion could really be a game-changer this week. If he plays, will the Utes put him back in the lineup with some draft packages or will he be given the green light to play the entire game? Both teams like to play with the ball and rely on defense, so the value below 44.5 is interesting. Even though this is an away game for the Utes, they still have the edge due to good defense in the first month of the season. This will be a close game and Utah’s points are too good to pass up. Pick: Utah +3
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