Utah Tech is headed into Saturday night’s matchup at LaVell Edwards Stadium as a massive underdog, but the Trailblazers are still set to leave Provo with a respectable payday.
According to an amended contract signed in August 2022 by then-BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe and current Utah Tech AD Ken Beazer, BYU will pay Utah Tech $450,000 for the visit. The Deseret News recently obtained the agreement through a government open records request.
The game had originally been set for Nov. 16, 2024, under a June 2020 contract that called for BYU to pay then-Dixie State University $400,000. That arrangement changed after BYU was invited to join the Big 12 in 2021, and the game was moved to this year with the guarantee bumped up by $50,000.
On the field, the setup is lopsided. Utah Tech was blown out 54-0 by Montana State last Saturday, and oddsmakers have the Trailblazers projected to lose by more than 47 points against No. 14 BYU, which is coming off a 12-2 season and is expected to contend for the Big 12 title in 2026 and maybe even reach the College Football Playoff.
The contract also gives Utah Tech 300 complimentary tickets, with the option to request as many as 2,000 additional tickets on consignment at the printed face value. BYU will also cover the officiating costs, with the same officials’ association that handles BYU’s home games assigned to Saturday night’s contest.
Even with the $450,000 payout, BYU is getting what looks like a bargain. The Cougars paid Portland State $650,000 for last year’s season-opener at LES, and BYU won that game 69-0.
Utah is making a similar move to open its season, hosting Idaho on Thursday night in another “payday game” against a Big Sky opponent at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Deseret News reported on July 16 that Utah is paying Idaho $600,000, along with 300 complimentary tickets and the option to buy up to 2,000 more in the visitors’ section.
The Utes are also paying Utah State $600,000 for the Aggies’ visit on Sept. 19. That game will be Bronco Mendenhall’s first return to Rice-Eccles Stadium since Sept. 15, 2012, when Utah fans stormed the field three times before the Utes escaped with a 24-21 win.
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Richie Saunders Still Waiting On His First NBA Deal For One Reason
Richie Saunders path to the NBA has hit an early snag, and it has nothing to do with where he was drafted. The former BYU standout, taken No. 32 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2026 NBA draft, is still in the middle of recovering from a torn ACL, which has delayed any deal getting finalized. Memphis is expected to bring him in on a two-way contract so he can continue rehabbing while easing back into action.
The hold-up is the familiar business side of the NBA, where two-way deals come with financial limits that can complicate negotiations even for a second-round pick. Memphis also has more players than the regular-season roster limit allows, so the front office has work to do before opening night, and Saunders remains one of the names tied to that larger roster puzzle as the Grizzlies figure out how to fit him in. [Read more 🡒]
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There is at least one encouraging note in the secondary, where slot cornerback Cannon DeVries is probable to play after leaving early against TCU. On offense, BYU is expected to lean on a committee approach in the backfield to help offset the absence of Martin and second-string back Sione Moa, a setup that puts more pressure on depth and execution as the Cougars prepare for one of their tougher road tests. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Got Pulled Into A New Big 12 Ranking Debate
The latest Big 12 power rankings brought a little more intrigue to the top of the league picture, and BYU is right in the middle of it. After a close win against TCU, the Cougars slipped to No. 2 in the Week 6 ballot from KSL Sports reporters, while Utah climbed into the No. 1 spot. It adds another layer to what has already become a tightly watched race in the conference, especially with the standings and recent results shifting week by week.
For BYU, the ranking is less about the number next to its name than the conversation it now has to share with Utah and the rest of the Big 12. The full list reflects how competitive the league has become, with recent game results shaping every move up and down the board. For Cougars fans, it is the kind of update that keeps the focus on what comes next, because in a week like this, one narrow win or one strong showing can change the whole debate. [Read more 🡒]