Chip Kelly and his UCLA Bruins opened last season 6-0 and climbed as high as ninth in the AP poll. The sixth win: a 42-32 upset of then-No. 11 Utah at the Rose Bowl.

The two teams meet again this weekend to open Pac-12 play. Both are ranked. Both enter the matchup unbeaten. With pieces back on the defensive side of the football that helped UCLA to a win last year, Kelly was asked Monday when he met with reporters if he had to walk a line this week between keeping the Bruins confident without them becoming overconfident.

“I don’t think overconfident comes into any conversation when you’re playing Utah. I don’t think that word exists when you’re playing this team,” Kelly said. “This is the two-time defending conference champ. Really talented football team. Just turn the tape on. They played two Power Five teams to open the season, with a win against Florida and a win at Baylor. They’re as good a football team as there is in the country.

“That’s our full attention and we really haven’t spent any time talking about last season.”

The Utes made it through nonconference play unblemished despite missing their starting quarterback and significant contributors all over the two-deep. They beat Florida 24-11 in the opener. They escaped Waco, Texas, with a 20-13 win over Baylor. And they handled Weber State last weekend.

Utah certainly has questions and vulnerabilities Kelly and his coaching staff will look to exploit this week, but the truth of the matter is this is a football team that has been just about unbeatable at home in recent years.

Utah has won 27 of its last 28 home games. It has won 16 straight dating back to Dec. 5. Rice-Eccles has featured a sellout crowd in 78 straight contests.

UCLA hasn’t beaten Utah in Salt Lake City since 2015.

“Rice-Eccles is a difficult venue. They’ve got a great home crowd advantage,” Kelly said. “I think winning on the road in the Pac-12 is difficult anywhere. You can look at all the stats. I think everybody has a distinct homefield advantage in terms of what they’re doing. But I think the crowd in Utah is awesome. They have great support for their football program. And they’re a really good team. And they’re really well-coached. I think it’s a combination of the crowd, the talent on the roster, and the coaching staff.”

Kickoff between the two teams is set for 12:30 p.m. PT on FOX this upcoming Saturday.