An airplane crash isn't something you simply experience8212;You survive it. Apparently, the same applies to the Utah football team when facing the New Mexico Lobos.

After a win against a ranked opponent and a record of 10-0, it's going to be difficult for naysayers to deny Utah the credibility it's deserved all season.

With a win, the Utes would lock up second place in the Mountain West Conference as well as a first round bye in the upcoming conference tournament. With a loss, Utah would have opened the door for No. 3 TCU.

The Utah women's volleyball team continued its recent domination of the Mountain West Conference as it defeated TCU in three sets, good for its ninth straight MWC win.

While the voters in The Associated Press Top 25 poll decided to put Boise State a sliver ahead of Utah in its weekly poll, the Bowl Championship Series standings show Utah with a decided advantage as the lead non-BCS school to get an automatic BCS bowl bid.

After a down-to-the-wire, lackluster 13-10 win over their perennial hang nail, Ute running back Darrell Mack explained his team's only 2008 visit to the Land of Enchantment. "All that matters is, we got the 'W'," said a solemn Mack.

Whittingham cannot underplay the importance of this game on the road. New Mexico historically gives the Utes fits. Throughout the history of the match-up, Utah either wins by a lot or loses close games. If the game stays close through three quarters, the Lobos and their fans will smell the wafting scent of an upset.

When the 2008 football season started, defensive coordinator Gary Andersen hoped that he'd eventually have four starting defensive tackles to choose from. Two weeks into the season, he would have been satisfied with two.

If the Lobo donning the No. 21 jersey runs into a pack of Utes this weekend and is not brought down immediately, this shouldn't be a shocker. He runs fast, breaks tackles, and is one hard guy to bring to the turf.

The Utes play New Mexico and their high-powered, high-pressure, sack-the-quarterback 3-3-5 defense that head coach Rocky Long has been running for the past 15 years.