Utah needed a bounce-back performance after last week’s disappointment against Oregon.

Does a 55-3 victory over Arizona State qualify? The 18th-ranked Utes, now 7-2 on the season, scored their largest win over another Pac-12 opponent since joining the conference by thoroughly dominating the Sun Devils (2-7, 1-5 Pac-12) from start to finish in front of the hometown fans.

The 52-point margin also marked the worst loss in a Pac-10/Pac-12 game for Arizona State.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

Utah’s offense opens it up

Utah scored on its opening possession and never looked back.

After what Kyle Whittingham felt was a breakout day for Devaughn Vele last week, there was a clear emphasis on getting him the ball early and often. He entered the day without a touchdown catch on the season and scored Utah’s first two touchdowns of the day.

Munir McClain brought in a 20-yarder from Bryson Barnes for the Utes’ third touchdown. It came late in the second quarter and set the Utes up 24-3 going into the halftime break. It was also the kind of play we haven’t seen enough of from Utah’s playmakers this season.

Ja’Quinden Jackson opened the second half with a 54-yard touchdown run.

Landen King was on the receiving end of Barnes’ fourth passing score of the day early in the fourth quarter.

Then Nate Johnson exploded for a 59-yard rushing touchdown.

Vele finished with 56 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions. King had 43 yards and a score on four catches. Jaylon Glover got stuff done on the ground, going for 64 yards on 14 carries. Jackson hit for 111 yards before exiting with an injury. Barnes had 56 rushing yards himself.

Utah went for 513 yards of offense at 6.7 a play on a defense that just extended its defensive coordinator earlier this week.

Utah looked like it was running RPO regularly. It gave Barnes options and let him play. It looked like he was building some confidence before the Oregon game last week, so this was a brilliant gameplan from Andy Ludwig to make sure Barnes had a quick bounceback day.

Of course, it certainly helped that Barnes’ playmakers showed up around him. Arizona State’s defense was trending up in recent weeks; Utah took it to that unit.

A swarming defensive performance*

The Sun Devils entered Saturday’s contest against Utah with seven healthy scholarship offensive linemen. That position group in particular has just been wiped out by injuries this year for Arizona State. It has made it hard on coach Kenny Dillingham to conduct productive practices at times. It has made it hard for Arizona State to develop any offensive rhythm. And it has put Arizona State’s quarterbacks in constant jeopardy.

Trenton Bourguet was finding his footing after a 38-27 win over Washington State last week. But ASU has been painfully familiar with Murphy’s Law this year, and Bourguet was knocked out of the game on the third offensive play of the day. He tried to come back in later, but was clearly putting himself at further risk by playing.

Arizona State turned to its fourth-string quarterback and, at times, its jitterbug running back.

A week after Utah’s defense got gashed over and over by Oregon, there was no daylight for Arizona State.

Utah’s defense was everywhere.

Jonah Elliss had 1.5 sacks and two pass breakups to continue his outstanding season. Conner O’Toole had a sack. Levani Damuni had 11 tackles and assisted on a sack.

The Sun Devils managed only 83 yards of total offense. Jacob Conover, in to replace Bourguet, went 5-for-22 for 41 yards and an interception. Cam Skattebo had 31 yards on 12 carries.

It was the second-worst offensive day in program history and the fewest in a single game since the program managed just 12 yards in a 67-0 loss to Arizona in 1946.

So, it could be worse?

But the day obviously deserves a giant asterisk. Because of the injuries throughout Arizona State’s two-deep, it’s just really hard to judge things. Arizona State got really poor quarterback play after Bourguet went out. Utah won’t care either way. It wanted to ensure Oregon didn’t beat it twice. Mission accomplished.

Arizona State just kept kicking the corner of the coffee table

Penalties aided Utah’s first two scoring drives. A 72-yard punt return touchdown was taken off the board because of a holding penalty. A 41-yard reception was negated by pass interference and ASU threw an interception two plays later.

Arizona State was flagged six times for 56 yards. It felt like every time something good might happen, ASU instead took a step back. One of those days.