Saturday’s Holy War carries more weight than ever, and for the first time, Utah and BYU will walk into it as top-10 teams.
No. 3 Utah, unbeaten at 8-0 and 5-0 in the Big 12, hosts No.
9 BYU on Saturday in Salt Lake City with conference positioning and College Football Playoff implications hanging over the matchup. The Cougars are 7-1 and 4-1, and they arrive trying to snap Utah’s three-game series winning streak.
Utah is one of three undefeated FBS teams, while BYU sits tied for second in the Big 12 with Texas Tech. That alone gives this meeting a different kind of shine, but the ranking adds another layer: this is the first time the rivalry has featured both teams in the Top 10.
“What makes it great is that it’s competitive,” said Utah coach Morgan Scalley. “Look at us, we’re in one state within 30 minutes of each other, and we’re both sitting here ranked in the top 10. That’s awesome.”
The Utes have opened 8-0 for the first time since 2010, and Scalley has made it clear he wants the rivalry to lose some of its edge. He and BYU coach Kalani Sitake both coached under Kyle Whittingham at Utah, and both are now leading their alma maters.
“At the end of the day, it’s mine and (Sitake’s) hope that this thing can be more civil,” Scalley said. “The hatred, the toxicity that is spewed from both sides to me, it’s not good for the rivalry.”
BYU’s path is more precarious because of its lone blemish, the 39-31 double-overtime loss to UCF on Oct. 24. That defeat makes Saturday feel like a must-win if the Cougars want to keep their Big 12 title and national championship hopes in realistic territory.
The early kickoff adds another wrinkle. ABC wanted the game for a national audience, so the teams will start at 10 a.m. local time in Salt Lake City.
“It’s a little bit different,” Sitake said. “The guys are really focused. There’s more energy and more effort towards the preparation for this game than ever before.”
BYU’s biggest concern is the run game, which has slipped since running back LJ Martin went down with a leg injury. Martin still leads the Cougars with 344 rushing yards and 7.8 yards per carry, but he hasn’t played since the 17-10 win over TCU on Oct. 3.
Without him, the ground production has dropped off game by game: 177 yards against Iowa State, 121 against Notre Dame, 116 against UCF and then just 47 in last week’s 27-20 home win over Arizona State. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier has picked up much of the slack, rushing for 336 yards and seven touchdowns on 80 carries while also throwing for 1,750 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Martin did return to practice this week, which at least gives BYU some hope.
“He’s looking better and we’re seeing him in lots of training,” Sitake said. “So, he’s getting close, but we want to make sure that it’s the right timing for him.”
Utah, meanwhile, has had to absorb its own blow up front. Right tackle Kelvin Obot is out for the rest of the season after suffering a lower-leg injury Oct. 17 against Colorado.
Even so, the Utes’ offense has kept rolling on the ground. Wayshawn Parker has powered the attack with 726 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, helping Utah rank eighth nationally with 226.9 rushing yards per game. BYU’s defense against the run has been sturdy, allowing 100.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks 20th in the nation.
Devon Dampier has been efficient for Utah as well, completing 69.6% of his passes for 1,876 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Utes also rank third nationally in third-down efficiency at 54.1%, and their defense has come up with nine interceptions, tied for 13th-most in the country.
In Other News...
Keanu Tanuvasa Brings Extra Emotion Into BYU Rivalry Week
Rivalry week already carries its own weight in Provo, but Keanu Tanuvasa has brought a more personal layer to it. The BYU defensive tackle spent time at Utah before transferring across the rivalry line, and he has had to sort through what that means as the Cougars prepare for the next meeting between the programs. His perspective is shaped not just by the switch in uniforms, but by his relationship with Utah coach Morgan Scalley and the familiarity that comes with having lived on both sides of the matchup.
This week also arrives with something far bigger than football hanging over Tanuvasas head, since his wife is due to deliver their son. Even as he balances that family milestone, he has been talking about Utahs team and the responsibility he feels as a leader on BYUs defensive line. It gives the rivalry an extra edge, with Tanuvasa standing in the middle of a game that means plenty in the standings and even more in his own life. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Heads Into Utah With One Huge Question On Offense
BYUs ground game has lost some of its edge over the last four games since star running back LJ Martin went down with a leg injury, and the timing could hardly be worse with Utah next on the schedule. The setback has not been just about one player, either, because injuries along the offensive line have also made it harder for the Cougars to get consistent push up front and keep the run game on track.
Martin did practice recently, which at least gives BYU some hope as it heads into a rivalry matchup that usually demands physical football. Even so, his availability is still uncertain, leaving the Cougars to lean on a collective answer from the offense if they want to get the rushing attack moving again against Utah. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Biggest Utah Question May Come Down To LJ Martin
LJ Martins status has become one of the biggest questions hanging over BYUs buildup to Utah, and it comes at a time when the Cougars could use every bit of backfield stability they can get. The running back has been sidelined with an ankle injury since Oct. 3, but he was back at practice recently, offering at least a sign that his recovery is moving in the right direction.
Still, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said it is too soon to know whether Martin will be ready for the game, leaving his availability very much up in the air. Preston Rex is expected to return from injury, which helps the depth chart, but Martins potential presence would carry a different kind of weight for a rivalry game where every healthy playmaker matters. [Read more 🡒]