Keanu Tanuvasa has already lived one of the rivalry’s biggest twists. Now he’s about to walk back into Rice-Eccles Stadium wearing BYU colors, with Utah fans waiting and a whole lot more on his mind than football.
The redshirt senior defensive tackle, who left Utah for BYU and once said the move “was going to cause earthquakes” in Salt Lake City, said Monday he expects the Utes’ crowd to bring exactly what it always brings.
“Nothing but their best, which is their passion, their fire, everything that comes along with it,” he said Monday. “I was one of the biggest advocates for them when I was there.
I loved their passion, their impact on the game because I felt that when they were behind me as a player. So I don’t expect anything different going back up there as an opposing player.
I’m excited for their fire and their juice.”
That return trip comes with plenty of weight. Tanuvasa and BYU beat Utah 24-21 in Provo last year, giving the Cougars their third straight win in the series. He was part of the 2024 game that ended in painful fashion for the Utes, when Jake Retzlaff pushed BYU into field goal range in the final minute and Will Ferrin nailed a 44-yard kick for a 22-21 BYU win.
This time, the matchup lands on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium, and Tanuvasa says the setting is one of the reasons he’s looking forward to it.
“I’m excited. I think Rice-Eccles is a phenomenal place to play.
It is one of my favorite stadiums in the entire country, and so being back there (brings a) lot of excitement. They got a great team.”
The week has become even more personal for him. His wife, Zerin, is due to deliver their son “any day now” in Provo, and Tanuvasa said he’ll have BYU defensive line coach Sione Po’uha and several trainers “on standby” with his phone during practice in case he has to leave and head to the hospital.
For a player who already made one seismic move in this rivalry, that’s a lot to juggle.
Tanuvasa also knows plenty about the Utah side he’s about to face. He said he’s familiar with the Utes’ offensive line and has nothing but respect for them.
“They are a freaking great bunch of guys that give huge effort,” he said. “I’ve seen that since they were young players.
… I think the game that we play is a boys’ game, and we have a lot of fun doing it. So, I am just excited to go line it up.”
The BYU defender spent 24 games at Utah and started 19 of them before moving across the rivalry line. Now he’s a captain for the Cougars and has become a key piece of their defense, with 16 tackles and one sack this season. Teammates say his presence goes well beyond the stat sheet.
“The No. 1 thing (that stands out) is his leadership, man,” said fellow defensive lineman Bodie Schoonover. “That guy knows how to get the team going and bring the team together.
He is a special guy, for sure. I love Keanu very much.”
There’s also a personal connection to Utah coach Morgan Scalley, who attended Tanuvasa’s wedding and sealing in a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tanuvasa said he isn’t shocked by Utah’s 8-0 start.
“I am not surprised that they’re (8-0) because that’s Morgan’s attitude. That’s coach Scalley’s way of life,” Tanuvasa said. “He is a go-getter, and that man has one of the greatest spirits that I’ve been around in being ruthlessly the best version of himself.
“He’s never satisfied with just OK, or being good, and so them being a great team doesn’t surprise me (because) he’s at the helm of it. … He’s been a mentor to me. He’s a very deliberate and intentional man that I admire and adore.”
Tanuvasa also praised Utah’s offense, led by former BYU graduate assistant Kevin McGiven, who was with the Cougars from 2002-04.
“They can do really whatever they want. They’re very creative, and they have a means by which they execute according to whatever their flavor of the week is,” Tanuvasa said.
“They got two great guys in the backfield. They got a great running back.
I love the O line, like I mentioned. … We got to be fundamentally sound, with everyone owning their 1/11th on the field.”
And with both programs trying to cool down a rivalry that has too often spilled over, Tanuvasa had a simple message for everyone involved.
“I think my message for the fans is to enjoy it. … These games come around once a year, maybe twice a year if the odds align, so just enjoy and be mindful of other people.
Right? We’re still human beings, and we’re still put on this Earth for a greater cause.
But man, it’s football season, and this is the greatest rivalry that I’ve been a part of, so let’s just go enjoy it.”
In Other News...
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 🡒]
BYUs CFP Position Just Made The Utah Game Even Bigger
BYUs path into the College Football Playoff picture got a little steeper when the selection committee placed the Cougars at No. 9, a spot that felt lower than many expected after their win over Notre Dame. The Irishs slide from No. 4 in the AP poll to No. 11 in the CFP rankings also took some shine off what looked like a signature victory for BYU, since the committee clearly leaned toward teams with more quality wins on the rsum.
The Cougars still have chances to change that conversation, and the calendar has made the next stretch feel even more important. Notre Dames game against Miami and BYUs matchup with Utah both loom as opportunities to strengthen a case the committee has not fully embraced yet, especially with the loss to UCF still hanging over the profile as a major blemish. [Read more 🡒]