QB might give Utes stability

Southern California loses to Stanford. Michigan falls to Appalachian State. South Florida is a national championship contender.

This might be the craziest college football season in memory.

In the Mountain West Conference, no team defines crazy quite like Utah.

The Utes faced what was considered a brutal nonconference schedule but went 3-1. They were expected to contend for the Mountain West title but are 0-2 in league play, including a 27-0 loss at UNLV.

Who are these guys?

Utah might not even know the answer, but this could be an improving team now that quarterback Brian Johnson is almost fully recovered from a separated shoulder suffered in the season opener. He directed victories over Utah State and Louisville, passing for 312 yards against the Cardinals.

“Brian Johnson is unquestionably our team leader, not only for the offense but the team in general,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Tuesday. “The way Brian runs the offense, the intangibles he brings to the table — the leadership, on-field demeanor — are invaluable to the football team.”

But Whittingham knows better than to assume all is right, even with Johnson back in control.

“You never sit there and think you’ve arrived and you’ve got it all solved,” Whittingham said. “As soon as you get that in mind, you fall flat on your face.”

• FULLY RECOVERED — UNLV tailback David Peeples, a Cheyenne High School graduate who sustained a concussion Sept. 22 against Utah, has been cleared to play in Saturday’s home game against Brigham Young.

Rebels coach Mike Sanford said Peeples could have played in Saturday’s 31-14 loss at Air Force.

Also, guard Mike McKiski, a Coronado graduate, is expected to play but not start. He missed the Air Force game with a knee injury. Linebacker Ronnie Paulo, a Western product, is back after missing the two previous games with a knee injury.

• NO ONE TO BLAME — Texas Christian coach Gary Patterson refused to blame usually reliable kicker Chris Manfredini for another crucial miss.

His 48-yard field-goal attempt bounced off the right upright as time expired in Saturday’s 24-21 defeat at Wyoming. Manfredini, who made 12 of 14 field goals last season, also bounced a 36-yarder off the left upright in overtime of a 20-17 loss at Air Force on Sept. 13.

“Chris Manfredini has been our guy for a couple of years,” Patterson said. “He’s won us a lot of football games. We win as a team. We lose as a team. We’ve never pointed fingers, and that’s got to start with me.”

• NO WORRIES — San Diego State quarterback Kevin O’Connell bruised his left (nonthrowing) shoulder in Saturday’s 24-20 victory at Colorado State but should be ready this weekend at Utah.

“He’ll practice all week,” Aztecs coach Chuck Long said. “Any time you win, it heals a little faster.”

O’Connell has completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 1,333 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2914.