SAN DIEGO, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The Utah Utes got their eighth win Saturday against San Diego State, 51-28, in a Mountain West Conference matchup at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
Utes quarterback Alex Smith completed 22-of-33 passes for 298 yards and five touchdowns. Paris Warren caught 10 passes for 113 yards and Steve Savoy finished with four receptions for 70 yards as each caught a pair of TD passes for the undefeated Utes (8-0, 4-0 Mountain West).
The win put the Utes one step closer to becoming the first team not from one of the "power" conferences to receive an automatic bid to a Bowl Championship Series game.
Kevin O'Connell was 21-of-43 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns for the Aztecs (2-6, 0-4). He also ran for a score, was sacked four times and threw two interceptions.
The loss eliminated the Aztecs from bowl consideration.
