The California Golden Bears (23) can make a huge leap in the national rankings and stake their claim as the Pac-12's best team with an upset over the Utah Utes (5) on the road, and they know it.
"We're trying to stay in the national conversation," Cal wide receiver Bryce Treggs told reporters at a weekly press conference, according to ESPN. "We understand if we beat a great Utah team, we'll obviously move up in the charts. We're viewing this as a good opportunity to go in the national spotlight and make a statement."
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ESPN's "College GameDay" will be in Salt Lake City, shining the national spotlight on both teams.
While Cal can stand to make a huge jump in the national poll, Utah can take that significant step from being a top-five team nationally to sit within the top-four, or College Football Playoff territory.
Cal's 43.4 points per game and 358.4 passing yards per game both rank within the nation's top-10. While Utah is scoring 38.8 points per game, their offense is much more even-keeled with 189.5 passing yards per game and 204 rushing yards per game.
In addition to trying to stop Jared Goff and the Golden Bears' high-powered aerial attack, Utah has to be able to handle national attention, which likely awaits whoever wins.
"It's almost like living in a biosphere or a dome," Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham said in his weekly press conference. "You've got people tapping on the glass and looking in at you. You've just got to block it out and go about your business and not let it affect you because it can be a distraction."
