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UCLA vs. Utah: Johnathan Franklin, John White square off in Pac-12 showdown

Last year's Pac-12 leading rusher and this year's current leader meet in a game with big Pac-12 South implications.

Stephen Dunn - Getty Images

When the UCLA Bruins welcome in the Utah Utes this weekend, they'll need to prepare for a very talented tailback in John White. At the same time, Utah could be in for a long day if they struggle to stop Johnathan Franklin and UCLA's rushing attack.

As the Los Angeles Times detailed on Friday, White led the Pac-12 in rushing last season with an impressive 1,519 yards. In 2012, it's Franklin who currently leads the way with 800 rushing yards through six games. With at least six more games on the schedule for Franklin and the Bruins, he could break White's mark from last year.

A win this weekend would be big for both teams. UCLA is 1-2 in conference play after a promising start, while Utah is 0-2 with tough losses to Arizona State and USC. A third loss likely takes both teams out of the running for a Pac-12 South division crown, and no head coach wants to face when it's still early in October. Look for both Franklin and White to have big days to keep their respective teams in the hunt.