SALT LAKE CITY, Utah = If the Utah Utes want to get past Washington and secure a berth to the Rose Bowl, they’re going to have to slow down the Huskies’ running game.

That begins and ends with stopping the Huskies’ star running back Myles Gaskin. In the matchup with Washington earlier this season, Gaskin was instrumental in pacing the Huskies to a 21-7 win over Utah. He rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown in the victory.

Myles Gaskin.

Over 1⃣,0⃣0⃣0⃣ rushing yards for the fourth year in a row. #PurpleReign pic.twitter.com/YjmvsnI8ao

— Washington Football (@UW_Football) November 24, 2018

Knowing how dangerous Gaskin can be, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham agrees that for the Utes to win on Friday, they’re going to have to limit the running back’s effectiveness.

“We didn’t let him just go crazy on us but still had a good night,” said Whittingham in his Monday press conference. “I think he is a heck of a back and one of the best in the country in my opinion. He was banged up around mid-season and missed some time, in fact the Cal game which is one of the games they lost, he didn’t play at all. So he is definitely a guy that we are going to focus on. If he gets out and gets going and has a big game, then our chances aren’t real good.”

Analyzing the Huskies’ Losses

The recipe for beating Washington seems to be bottling up Gaskin and the rest of the rushing game. That is evident in the box score of each of their three losses on the season.

In the Huskies’ first loss of the season, a 21-16 defeat at the hands of Auburn, Gaskin rushed for just 75 yards with no touchdowns.

Later, in a 30-27 loss at Oregon, Gaskin again failed to reach the century mark for rushing yardage, gathering just 69 yards without a score.

Then in the Huskies’ surprising loss to California, Gaskin was out with an injury and did not play. As a team, the Huskies were limited to just 91 rushing yards.

The Pac-12 Championship Game will kick off from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Friday at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Fox.