Most Ute fans I know realize our issues on September 11th were in the trenches. BYU punched us in the nose and dominated both lines. No one will ever know what Rising might have done, but I doubt he could have done much because he would have had zero protection.
Utah's line had injuries and a lack of experience at the time. Players got healthy and the younger guys developed. But, on September 11th, BYU was the better team. Hard to argue that.