UCLA defensive coordinator Lou Spanos said this year’s Utah team uses very similar personnel to the 2012 squad that lost 21-14 at the Rose Bowl. One key difference is the maturity of sophomore Travis Wilson, who went from averaging 3.3 rushing yards per game to 62.75 — third-best among conference quarterbacks.

The Bruins have faced capable scramblers in Nevada’s Cody Fajardo and Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez, but at 6-foot-7, Wilson’s speed is a little more deceptive.

“Different style runner,” Spanos said. “However, the result is the same if not greater. He made a lot of touchdowns, a lot of long runs. He’s a good runner.”

Wilson’s development has also been helped by the addition of co-offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson, who has emphasized big plays in his schemes. The quarterback is up from 6.4 yards per attempt to 9.7, the highest in the Pac-12.