We won, but it wasn't a good game for either team.
Utah has been pretty good in openers under Whittingham, however:
2005- Beat Arizona (3-8) 27-24 at home
2006- Lost to UCLA (7-6) 31-10 on the road
2007- Lost to OR ST (9-4) 24-7 on the road
2008- Beat Michigan (3-9) 25-23 on the road
2009- Beat USU (4-8) 35-24 at home
2010- Beat Pitt (8-5) 27-24 at home
2011- Beat MT ST (FCS) 27-10 at home
2012- Beat N. CO (FCS) 41-0 at home
2013- Beat USU (9-5) 30-26 at home
2014- Beat ID ST (FCS) 56-14 at home
2015- Beat Michigan (10-3 and #12) 24-17 at home
2016- Beat SUU (FCS) 24-0 at home
2017- Beat N. Dakota (FCS) 37-16 at home
2018- Beat Weber State (FCS) 41-10 at home
It's a good record, but it certainly has a lot of FCS teams in it.