BOULDER — For college football fans and analysts it’s a natural to compare Colorado and Utah, who both joined the Pac-12 prior to the 2011 season.
Thus far, the scales tip heavily in favor of Utah. Since becoming a member of the Pac-12, Utah has compiled a four-year record of 25-23 entering Saturday’s 11 a.m. game at Colorado. The Utes (7-4, 4-4 Pac-12) have notched 13 conference victories during that span.
Colorado (2-9, 0-8)has a four-year record of 10-38 with a total of four wins against Pac-12 foes.
When asked Tuesday if it is fair to compare Utah and Colorado, Buffs coach Mike MacIntyre said CU entered the Pac-12 under much different circumstances than Utah. Colorado already is on its second head coach since joining the conference, while Utah’s Kyle Whittingham is completing his 10th season as head coach and had been an assistant coach with the Utes for 11 years prior to that.
“Utah has had tremendous stability,” MacIntyre said.
MacIntyre also pointed out that Utah had won 10 games (10-3) in 2010, the Utes’ final year in the Mountain West. Colorado won half that many games (5-7) in 2010 — albeit as a member of the more demanding Big 12.
“Utah has had what I would call a top-25 program for a while now,” MacIntyre said. “To me, they’re not even close to (the situation) that we are with rebuilding. They were established and ready to go (when joining the Pac-12).
“They’re a very good football team with their stability and facilities and their support,” MacIntyre added. “I think they were ahead of where Colorado was when (the Buffs) joined the Pac-12. I think everybody would agree with that.”
“People are absolutely going to compare” Colorado with Utah, CU senior offensive guard Kaiwi Crabb said. “It is slightly frustrating. But it’s not necessarily just Utah. There are other teams in the Pac-12 that have made huge strides.
“Props to Utah. They’re a great team. They have great players offensively and defensively. The strength of the whole Pac-12 is an incentive for us to get going,” Crabb added. “The Pac-12 is a tough conference. I think we’ve improved, but we have to ramp it up another level.”
The book on Booker. Utes standout junior tailback Devontae Booker is from Sacramento, Calif., and was recruited by MacIntyre when he coached at San Jose State. Booker (5-foot-11, 203 pounds) ranks second among Pac-12 rushers with 1,255 yards, trailing only UCLA’s Paul Perkins (1,265).
“I think Booker is one of the best backs in the country,” MacIntyre said.
Footnotes. MacIntyre said the starting quarterback decision — Sefo Liufau or Jordan Gehrke — will be made Wednesday. … Injured CU senior safety Jered Bell will apply to the NCAA for a rare sixth year, MacIntyre said. A projected starter for 2014, Bell was lost for the season with a knee injury in August. He also suffered a season-ending ACL tear in 2011 during preseason camp. Bell already has been accepted to CU graduate school for next year, MacIntyre said, adding that he would be shocked if the NCAA does not grant Bell another year.
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
