The Holy War has real weight this time.
Utah comes in unbeaten and with a direct path to the Big 12 championship, while BYU still has a College Football Playoff case that looks stronger because of the Notre Dame win and shakier because of the loss to unranked UCF. The result could ripple into the top of the playoff committee’s rankings this week, which gives Saturday’s meeting plenty of bite.
The biggest question for BYU starts on the ground. The Cougars have not been able to get much going in the rushing game, and that showed again against Arizona State, when they finished with just 47 rushing yards and 1.6 yards per carry.
That problem gets even more concerning with injuries on the offensive line and uncertainty around running back LJ Martin’s availability. Utah, meanwhile, has been stout against the run, ranking 22nd nationally at 101.4 rushing yards allowed per game.
If the Utes bottle up BYU early, Bear Bachmeier could be pushed into obvious passing downs, and that would make the Cougars easier to defend.
Utah has its own pressure point, and it runs through Devon Dampier. The quarterback’s dual-threat ability is a major part of what makes the Utes go, but BYU’s defensive front has a chance to make life difficult if it can win its matchups and keep Dampier from breaking contain. If the Cougars can force third-and-long and take away explosive runs, Utah’s offense could lose its rhythm.
The opening quarter may tell a lot. Utah has been fast out of the gate all season, outscoring opponents 89-6 in the first quarter.
A quick Utes lead would put BYU in a tough spot and force the Cougars away from the style they’d prefer to play. But if BYU gets on top early, the pressure shifts to an undefeated Utah team that hasn’t won this rivalry game since 2019.
Special teams could also tilt things. BYU has the clear edge there, sitting seventh nationally in SP+ compared with Utah at 77th. That kind of gap can matter in a game where field position is likely to be a big deal.
And then there’s the turnover battle, which could decide everything if this turns into the kind of tight fourth quarter rivalry game both sides are built for. Utah cannot afford to hand BYU short fields.
In the end, the danger for BYU is getting shoved around at the line of scrimmage. The danger for Utah is letting this become a messy, defensive, turnover-heavy fight. Both teams have a path to making Saturday miserable for the other.
In Other News...
BYU Road Controversy Put One UCF Player In A Tough Spotlight
The UCF homecoming game against BYU carried more than the usual conference-game edge, and some of the noise from the stands crossed a line. A group of UCF fans directed derogatory chants at BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, prompting security to identify them and remove them from the stadium. The Big 12 later fined UCF $100,000 under its updated discriminatory conduct policy, a reminder that the league is drawing a harder line on behavior that goes beyond ordinary game-day heckling.
Among the people caught in the middle was UCF tight end Grayson Brousseau, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He praised the universitys response and framed the episode as bigger than football, stressing the need for respect in a setting where rivalries can get loud but should not turn personal. For BYU, it was another uncomfortable road backdrop, and for UCF it became a test of how seriously the program and school would treat conduct that reflected poorly on both. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Utah Hopes Suddenly Center On One Crucial Return
A viral snap from former BYU offensive lineman Connor Pay has turned an otherwise routine football detail into a talking point online, with the clip drawing more than 3 million views. The video shows the ball landing in a throwing position with the laces on the fingers, prompting plenty of debate about whether it was the kind of clean exchange that deserves all the praise it received.
For BYU, though, the bigger issue is what comes next as it prepares for Utah. The Cougars are hoping running back LJ Martin can make it back from injury in time for the matchup, and his availability could matter plenty as the rivalry game approaches and the offense looks to round into shape. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Faces Its Biggest Test Yet With One Major Concern
A top-10 showdown with Utah already carries plenty of weight for BYU, but the buildup has been complicated by the status of one of its most important offensive pieces. LJ Martin is dealing with an injury, and the Cougars know the game plan may need to shift if he cannot go, especially with Utah bringing a defense that has given opponents little room to breathe.
Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick has already been preparing for adjustments in the run game, a reminder that this rivalry often turns on who can adapt fastest. BYUs coaches have spent the week talking through both the Utes strong defense and their unusual offense, and the Cougars will need answers on both sides of the ball if they want to handle their biggest test yet. [Read more 🡒]