UTAH (0-0) at OREGON STATE (0-0)
Today, 8 p.m. — Reser Stadium (46,000) — FieldTurf playing surface — Corvallis, Ore.
TV: FSN — Radio: 700AM
Sunny and warm during day with Increasing clouds and low of 55 at night, according to NWS.
PLAYER TO WATCH: YVENSON BERNARD, RB — The senior has racked up 2,414 yards and 22 touchdowns over his last 21 games. Bernard is the Pac-10's leading active rusher with 2,648 yards. He also has 82 receptions in his career.
KEY MATCHUP: UTAH'S OFFENSE vs. OREGON STATE'S DEFENSE — Can the Utes, who lost all-conference left tackle Jason Boone to a season-ending knee injury in camp, adequately protect quarterback Brian Johnson against an aggressive defensive unit that racked up 107 tackles for loss and 47 sacks in 2006?
THE STAKES
For Utah ... The Utes are looking to open a challenging schedule, which also includes nonconference games against UCLA and Louisville, on a positive note. A win could springboard the program back into top 25 consideration.
For Oregon State ... The Beavers are seeking their 23rd consecutive victory over a nonconference opponent in Corvallis. Coach Mike Riley is a perfect 13-0 at home against foes outside the Pac-10.
THE TRENDS
For Utah ... The Utes have won the past two meetings between the teams — prevailing in 1991 (42-9 in Salt Lake City) and 1992 (22-10 in Corvallis). Utah is 64-48-1 in season-openers.
For Oregon State ... OSU enters the season-opener with a four-game winning streak. The Beavers have won eight of their last nine, including an upset of USC.
THE EDGE
Utah will win if ... Brian Johnson and the offense can rack up some big numbers. With nine returning starters, the Utes have plenty of experience to get the job done. The defense can do its part by keeping the explosive Bernard in check.
Oregon State will win if ... the defense can get to Johnson on a regular basis and disrupt Utah's offensive flow. They return eight starters on defense.
OFFENSE
WR. . .BRENT CASTEEL. . .5
. . .Marquis Wilson. . .2
WR. . .BRIAN HERNANDEZ. . .16
. . .Bradon Godfrey. . .81
WR. . .DERREK RICHARDS. . .26
. . .Freddie Brown. . .88
TE. . .MATT SIMS. . .48
. . .Dallin Rogers. . .89
LT. . .ZANE BEADLES. . .68
. . .Walter Watts. . .71
LG. . .COREY SEIULI. . .74
. . .Caleb Schlauderauff. . .72
C. . .KYLE GUNTHER. . .63
. . .Tyler Williams. . .57
RG. . .ROBERT CONLEY. . .66
. . .Zane Taylor. . .77
RT. . .DUSTIN HENSEL. . .65
. . .Zeke Tuinei-Wily. . .79
QB. . .BRIAN JOHNSON. . .3
. . .Tommy Grady. . .15
RB. . .RAY STOWERS. . .24
. . .DARRYL POSTON. . .9
. . .MATT ASIATA. . .4
PK. . .LOUIE SAKODA. . .35
. . .Ben Vroman. . .30
KR. . .BRICE MCCAIN. . .1
. . .BRENT CASTEEL. . .5
. . .Derrek Richards. . .26
DEFENSE
CB. . .BRICE MCCAIN. . .1
. . .Justin Jones. . .29
CB. . .SEAN SMITH. . .4
. . .Elijah Wesson. . .8
FS. . .STEVE TATE. . .28
. . .RJ Rice. . .7
SS. . .JOE DALE. . .43
. . .Robert Johnson. . .17
DE. . .MARTAIL BURNETT. . .93
. . .Paul Kruger. . .11
DT. . .KENAPE ELIAPO. . .92
. . .Lei Talamaivao. . .43
DT. . .GABE LONE. . .94
. . .Aaron Tonga. . .98
DE. . .GREG NEWMAN. . .56
. . .Koa Misi. . .41
RLB. . .KYLE BRADY. . .14
. . .Stevenson Sylvester. . .10
MLB. . .JOE JIANNONI. . .44
. . .Mike Wright. . .20
SLB. . .MALAKAI MOKOFISI. . .22
. . .Kepa Gaison. . .46
P. . .LOUIE SAKODA. . .35
. . .Marquis Wilson. . .2
PR. . .BRENT CASTEEL. . .5
. . .Brian Hernandez. . .16
INJURY REPORT
The Utes will be without backup tight end Colt Sampson, who is out for a couple of weeks with an MCL strain. Other than that, they're pretty much injury free. Tailback Matt Asiata hasn't seen a lot of live work, but has reportedly recovered from a foot sprain.
OREGON STATE
OFFENSE
WR. . .CHRIS JOHNSON. . .3
. . .Aaron Nichols. . .46
WR. . .BRANDON POWERS. . .82
. . .Shane Morales. . .29
WR. . .ANTHONY BROWN. . .17
. . .James Rodgers. . .8
TE. . .HOWARD CROOM. . .88
. . .Brady Camp. . .83
LT. . .TAVITA THOMPSON. . .76
. . .Ryan Pohl. . .63
LG. . .JEREMY PERRY. . .62
. . .Adam Speer. . .51
C. . .KYLE DEVAN. . .75
. . .Marcus Henderson. . .65
RG. . .ROY SCHUENING. . .67
. . .Gregg Peat. . .73
RT. . .ANDY LEVITRE. . .66
. . .Mau Nomani. . .71
QB. . .SEAN CANFIELD. . .5
. . .LYLE MOEVAO. . .3
TB. . .YVENSON BERNARD. . .26
. . .Matt Sieverson. . .37
PK. . .ALEXIS SERNA. . .13
KR. . .GERALD LAWSON. . .5
. . .ANTHONY BROWN. . .17
DEFENSE
CB. . .KEENAN LEWIS 6
. . .Tim Clark 21
CB. . .BRANDON HUGHES 36
. . .Gerard Lawson 5
FS. . .AL AFALAVA 9
. . .Bryan Payton 23
SS. . .DANIEL DRAYTON 39
. . .Greg Laybourn 44
DE. . .DORIAN SMITH 93
. . .Victor Butler. . .90
DT. . .GERARD LEE. . .53
. . .William Akau'ola Vea. . .96
DT. . .CURTIS COKER. . .98
. . .Pernnell Booth. . .99
DE. . .JEFF VAN ORSOW. . .49
. . .Naymon Frank. . .91
SLB. . .DERRICK DOGGETT. . .45
. . .Isaiah Cook. . .12
MLB. . .ALAN DARLIN. . .43
. . .Bryant Cornell. . .41
WLB. . .JOEY LAROCQUE. . .42
Keaton Kristick. . .32
P. . .ALEXIS SERNA. . .13
. . .PR. . .TAYLOR KAVANAUGH. . .84
. . .Gerard Lawson. . .5
INJURY REPORT
Though all-purpose all-American Sammie Stroughter has resumed practicing this week, the senior isn't expected to play and may miss the entire season while dealing with grief issues associated with the recent deaths of several people close to him.
Date Opponent Time (TV)
Aug. 30. . .at Oregon St.. . .8 p.m. (FSN)
Sept. 8. . .Air Force. . .4 p.m. (MTN)
Sept. 15. . .UCLA. . .3 p.m. (VS)
Sept. 22. . .at UNLV. . .8 p.m. (MTN)
Sept. 29. . .Utah St.. . .1 p.m. (MTN)
Oct. 5. . .at Louisville. . .6 p.m. (ESPN)
Oct. 13. . .San Diego St.. . .1 p.m. (None)
Oct. 18. . .at TCU. . .6 p.m. (VS)
Oct. 27. . .at Colorado St.. . .3:30 p.m. (MTN)
Nov. 10. . .Wyoming. . .1:30 p.m. (CSTV)
Nov. 17. . .New Mexico. . .3:30 p.m. (MTN)
Nov. 24. . .at BYU. . .Noon (CSTV/MTN)
All times Mountain
NEXT UP
Air Force plays at home Saturday against South Carolina State.