Utah @ Northern Illinois preview

Utah is 1-0 for the 11th straight season after dominating FCS-ranked Weber State 41-10 on Aug. 30. But coach Kyle Whittingham still saw plenty for his team to work on in the nine days leading up to Saturday's contest at preseason Mid-American Conference West Division-favorite Northern Illinois.

The issues surfaced immediately as two early Utah turnovers led to a quick 10-0 lead for the visiting Wildcats. In all, the Utes finished the contest with a 4-0 turnover deficit and had a field-goal attempt blocked, marring what should’ve been a shutout after Utah posted a dominating 587-59 edge in total yards and allowed only three first downs. "What we need to do is start better," Whittingham said Monday at his weekly news conference. "... Defensively, we just need to find a way to get a takeaway, and special teams, we have plenty of things to work on there. We had a field goal blocked for the first time in six or seven years, and we turned the ball over on a punt return." Northern Illinois, meanwhile, did get off to a strong start on the road last week against Iowa, and the Hawkeyes led only 3-0 midway through the third quarter before pulling away for a 33-7 win.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNews. LINE: Utah -10.5

ABOUT UTAH (1-0): Zack Moss rushed for 1,173 yards a season ago, but the junior tailback looks as if he’s taken the next step forward after rushing for 150 yards, including an 86-yard scoring sprint, and catching three passes for 24 yards and another touchdown in the opener. Returning starting quarterback Tyler Huntley also is off to a strong start after throwing for 253 yards and matching his career high with four TD passes. Defensively, though, is where the Utes really stood out, particularly against the pass as Weber State quarterback Kaden Jenks finished 5-of-22 for just 13 yards while getting sacked three times.

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (0-1): The Huskies had won four of their previous five games against Big Ten foes, but Iowa took charge midway through the third quarter Saturday, reeling off 30 unanswered points to seal the home win. Sophomore quarterback Marcus Childers hooked up with Jauan Wesley for the team’s lone TD on a 10-yard fourth-quarter pass but finished with only 105 yards passing and two turnovers (a fumble and interception) as Iowa registered five sacks and eight tackles for loss. Linebacker Kyle Pugh had a team-high nine tackles, including six solo stops, to lead a defense which limited Iowa to modest 352 total yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Utah not only will be facing Northern Illinois for the first time but also will be playing its first MAC opponent as well.

2. Since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, the Utes are 27-1 in nonconference games, including five bowl wins, and have won 20 straight non-league contests since an overtime loss at Utah State in 2012.

3. The Huskies will play a second straight game without WR Spencer Tears, who had a team-high 43 receptions in 2017, as he finishes a two-game suspension for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

PREDICTION: Utah 24, Northern Illinois 10