SALT LAKE CITY — The series between Arizona and Utah hasn't been relatively close in more than a decade — on both sides of the aisle.

In the 12 meetings between the two teams since Utah reignited an old WAC rivalry by joining the Pac-12, only two games have been decided by fewer than 10 points for either side – a 30-24 win by Utah in the 2017 and a 37-30 Arizona win in 2015.

It was a series that boomed for one team and busted for another.

After controlling a six-game winning streak – the most for either side in a 26-20-2 series with the Utes coming out on top – Utah now finds itself on the other side of the win column after posting a demoralizing record of 42 -13 loss in the desert last season. It's a loss that Utah's players and coaches remember fondly.

“It wasn’t fun, I know that,” receiver Money Park said.

“Remember, it wasn’t fun,” defensive end Van Fillinger added.

As if the injuries hadn't piled up enough throughout the season, when the two teams played on November 18th, Utah was suddenly missing starters Cole Bishop, Jonah Elliss – it turned out the season was over – and Karene Reid many others.

Arizona needed about 10 full minutes of play to defeat the Utes, as freshman quarterback Noah Fifita and favorite target Tetairoa McMillan made easy work of Utah with a 42-18 win. Utah didn't even surpass 100 yards of total offense until the end of the second quarter.

“We have to accept the fact that they outplayed us and outcoached us and that's it,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said after the game.

The loss hurt, but it was the final 41 seconds of the game that perhaps hurt the most.

With a 35-18 lead and no real threat of a comeback, Arizona overlooked the victory formation and made one last attempt.

Backup quarterback Jayden de Laura, who came into the game after Fifita had done enough damage, hit McMillan about 25 yards down the field on a go route. The talented receiver easily fended off a tackle attempt and had green grass in front of him to score again.

Then-head coach Jedd Fisch said he wanted de Laura to end his career with another goal, but it's the kind of game that only adds fuel to the fire for next season.

Although Whittingham was unwilling to criticize the decision, saying Utah should have defended better after the game, the longtime head coach took note of it in his head, knowing the two teams would have to play at Rice-Eccles Stadium the next season.

It's part of the competitive gene that has made Whittingham so successful over the years.

(As a reminder, Whittingham also played the game and his team scored late in games to build big leads.)

“That was one of the most depressing games. It's like, 'Frick!'” offensive lineman Spencer Fano said. “So I feel like that gives us an extra little push against these guys because we have to get them back. We have to get them back for what happened last year. I mean, it's not bad feelings or anything,” but we just have to win her back. It's just that competitive nature.

A year later, a different result is expected on their territory. Utah will hope this lopsided result works in its favor again against an Arizona team that doesn't have much in common with the 2023 team.

“We all know Rice-Eccles is a really difficult environment for opponents, especially at night,” Whittingham said Monday. “They did pretty good to us last year, so we’re hoping to play a lot better this year than we did last year.”

Utah was the projected top team in the Big 12 this season with a 4-0 record and was in favor by two touchdowns in the week before the odds fell on the home team as a 7.5-point favorite, with freshman Isaac Wilson was the most likely quarterback to start on Saturday.

To add drama, Arizona begins with an extra week of preparation following the team's first bye week and a huge loss to Kansas State the week before.

“They just got through a bye, so they're fresh off a loss before the bye, so they're a bit of a wounded animal, which is unpredictable,” Whittingham said. “They have to have some confidence because they overwhelmed us last year so they have a lot to do.”

But for Whittingham, Kansas State provided a simple plan for how to beat Arizona: Run the ball.

“K-State ran the ball really effectively,” he said. “It's over 200 yards, and considering Arizona only had 40, 50, 60 yards rushing, that's damaging. If you can run a bunch and not give up a lot in the run game, you can control the game most of the time, and that's exactly what K-State did.

“K-State did a really good job defensively mixing coverages, applying pressure and missing eight was effective. They applied good pressure at times with a three-man rush, so they had a good plan when they came in and slowed (Fifita) down. “But for me the deciding factor was their ability to pass the football during the run game control.”

Arizona ranks 97th (out of 134 teams) in run defense.

But even though run defense has been a bit difficult for the Wildcats this season, the game plan will always come down to stopping the dynamic duo of Fifita and McMillan.

“Well, we’ve got to think of something, there’s no doubt about it,” Whittingham said. “Fifita is a great quarterback, had a great game against us last year. The McMillan kid is a great receiver who leads the conference in yards per game and is in the top two, three or four in receptions per game. So he's a big target.” big catch radius.

“We have to find an answer and hopefully, like I said, play better than last year.”