The old adage that "if you have two starting quarterbacks, you really don't have a quarterback" might apply to Utah. The team is hoping that isn't the case.
The Utes head into Saturday's showdown with USC sporting a top 20 ranking in the polls and continue to control their own destiny inside the Pac-12 South. With plenty on the line, head coach Kyle Whittingham has decided to stick with quarterback Travis Wilson as the team's starter this week.
"I just wanted less questions for me during the week," Whittingham said Monday. "I kind of played that strategy game last week by not announcing, but we figured that this week, let's just announce it and be done with it and move on."
The team did not announce a starter for last Thursday's game at Oregon State, preferring to keep the Beavers in the dark as to whether they were going with either Wilson or Kendal Thompson.
Wilson has been the starter most of the year but missed time in the win over Michigan and was benched in favor of Thompson during the team's win at UCLA. A junior backup, Thompson then started in Corvallis but was benched in favor of Wilson, who led the team to an overtime win over Oregon State.
"People say, 'Oh, well you're playing two quarterbacks so it's a two-quarterback system,'" Whittingham added. "No, it's not as far as my definition. ... We're waiting for some separation to occur."
Neither has exactly torn things up behind center in the passing game, and in recent weeks the offense has had to rely primarily on running back Devontae Booker, who is second in the Pac-12 in rushing. Wilson has fewer turnovers than Thompson, probably a factor in getting the nod against a USC defense that features talented defenders Leonard Williams, Hayes Pullard and Su'a Cravens.
Wilson did struggle against the Trojans last year in Los Angeles (51 yards passing, two interceptions), but this week's game is in Salt Lake City, and his experience could help against a Pac-12 South foe.
No matter who ends up taking snaps at quarterback Saturday though, expect plenty of Booker and passes targeted at stud wideout Dres Anderson.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.