Utah Utes
2007 record 8-4 overall, 5-3 in the Mountain West Conference
Coach Kyle Whittingham, third season, 23-14
Top offensive players Junior running back Darrell Mack has 231 carries for 1,128 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Derrek Richards is an offensive and special teams threat. He is the team's top receiver with 53 catches for 574 yards and two touchdowns and has averaged 15 yards on punt returns. He had a 75-yard return for a touchdown against Utah State.
Top defensive players Senior safety Steve Tate has 97 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions. Senior defensive end Martail Burnett leads the team with seven sacks.
Of note Utah has a six-game winning streak in bowl games. ... Utah and Navy have never met in football. ... It will be a homecoming for Mack, who is from Spring Valley, Calif. ... The Utes won seven straight games before losing the final game of the regular season to league champion Brigham Young. ... Whittingham played linebacker for BYU and was a teammate of quarterback Jim McMahon. ... Florida coach Urban Meyer went 22-2 in two seasons at Utah (2003 and 2004) and won both of his bowl games. He led the Utes to a perfect season (12-0) in 2004.
