Utah is expected to officially accept an invitation to join the Pac-10 on Thursday, expanding the league to 12 teams.

Colorado made it 11 teams last week, when we examined what the Buffaloes bring to the league in terms of the major sports. Let’s do the same with the Utes:

Football

Utah, as a member of the Mountain West Conference, has gone undefeated in two of the past six seasons. Now, we’ll get an answer to the criticism, “Yeah, but could they do it in a BCS conference?

Since 2003 — which was Urban Meyer‘s first season as coach — the Utes have gone 69-19. They routed Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl to cap the 2004 perfect season and smacked Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to finish the 2008 season at 13-0 under Kyle Whittingham.

Utah is 3-3 against the Pac-10 in the past four seasons and 7-3 against the Pac-10 dating to 2003.

The Utes have won nine consecutive bowl games, the longest streak in the nation.

If they were in the Pac-10 this season, they would be considered part of a big pack chasing presumed favorites Oregon and USC. Utah is ranked No. 22 in the preseason by The Sporting News, No. 25 by Lindy’s and 28th by Phil Steele’s magazine.

Consider this: Utah turned to true freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn late last season, and he passed for 336 yards in a Poinsettia Bowl victory against future conference foe Cal, earning bowl MVP honors. The Utes figure to join the Pac-10 in 2012, when Wynn will be a senior and, most likely, one of top quarterbacks in the league.

Last meeting against Arizona: Nov. 2, 2005 — Utah 27, Arizona 24 (in Salt Lake City)

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