The Utes looked like the Utes in their first game in a new conference — and that should worry their new foes. Especially when Cam Rising is back under center.

Coach Mike Gundy and the 15th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys open up Big 12 play Saturday with the 10th-ranked Utah Utes visiting Boone Pickens Stadium.

Defense wins championships and Utah and BYU have a huge chance to make statements in their Big 12 conference openers this weekend in Provo and Stillwater. The Utes’ and Cougars’ defenses are trending upward after three games and debuting in league play.

In a matchup that contained College Football Playoff implications, No. 12 Utah took down No. 14 Oklahoma State by the final score of 22-19.

Micah Bernard rushed for a career-high 182 yards, and No. 12 Utah withstood a fourth-quarter comeback to beat No. 14 Oklahoma State 22-19 in the Utes’ first Big 12 game after leaving the Pac-12

Isaac Wilson led No. 12 Utah to its first victory in program history against an AP Top 25 opponent with a true freshman quarterback under center.

It seemed the college football world moved past Clemson after the opening 34-3 loss to Georgia, but reports of the Tigers’ demise may have been greatly exaggerated. Since that loss, Clemson has a 66-20 win against Appalachian State and a 59-35 win against NC State on Saturday.

In one of the surprises of the new season, Florida State has crashed back to Earth, while the Gators are on course for another disappointing year.