The BYU-Utah rivalry was already in full swing long before kickoff Saturday, with the scene outside Rice-Eccles Stadium setting the tone for the day.
Utah red dominated the tailgate lots, while BYU blue showed up in smaller patches as fans arrived hours ahead of the game to grill, wave flags and get ready for the 104th meeting between the Cougars and the Utes. The atmosphere had been building since the tailgate areas opened as early as 9 p.m. Friday, and it only grew louder with both teams ranked among the nation’s top 10.
For BYU alumnus Elias Pacheco, the rivalry is bigger than one afternoon on the schedule.
"No matter what, I'm always going to rep the Y., and I'm always going to believe in them to the very last second," Pacheco said.
Utah alumna Emalee Lui said the matchup has been part of her life for as long as she can remember.
"I grew up always knowing the U. and BYU, and I would always have, like, BYU fans over, and I'd be the solo Ute fan," Lui said.
That back-and-forth is part of the draw, but Utah fan Lo Lujan said the rivalry still leaves room for good company and a little fun.
"Even though BYU is our biggest rivalry, we welcome them to come join us and hang out with us. There might be a little hazing here and there, but it's all in fun," said Lo Lujan, a Utah alumnus.
For Pacheco, the whole thing comes down to one thing: the right to talk for the next year.
"That's what it's all about. You get to brag that you're the champ of Utah for the next 365 days," Pacheco said.
This time, that title belongs to Utah after the Utes beat BYU 28-20, adding another result to a rivalry that began in 1896.
And for the fans packed into the lots before the game, the final score was only part of it. The real pull was the pride, the tradition and the chance to carry their school colors into another season.
In Other News...
Utah Just Gave Utes Fans New Rivalry Bragging Rights
Devon Dampier helped Utah take control of the latest edition of the Holy War, and the Utes defense did the rest in a 28-20 win over BYU at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Dampier accounted for four touchdowns, while Utahs secondary came up with four interceptions and the defense held BYU scoreless in the second half, a combination that gave the home crowd plenty to celebrate in a game that carried the usual rivalry edge.
The result also carried extra weight beyond the standings, drawing reaction from national media and former players who know what this matchup means around the program. For Utah, it was the kind of performance that can resonate well past one Saturday night, especially with the Utes sitting in a strong spot in conference play and the rivalry win adding another layer to the seasons momentum. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Let A Rivalry Statement Slip Away In The Worst Way
Utah finally got the kind of night it had been chasing in this rivalry, turning a fast start into a 28-20 win over BYU at Rice-Eccles Stadium and snapping a three-game skid against its biggest in-state foe. The Utes had the early edge, lost some of their grip in the second quarter, then settled back in after halftime with the kind of defensive edge that has long defined this matchup when it tilts Utahs way.
Devon Dampier was at the center of it, giving Utah production as a passer, runner and even as a receiver while helping keep the offense moving when the game tightened. For a team that had been waiting to reassert itself in this series, the victory carried more than just one win in the standings. It also left BYU with the frustration of a statement game slipping away after Utah took control again in the second half. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Unbeaten Run Is Forcing A Playoff Ranking Reckoning
Utahs unbeaten march has started to reshape the national conversation in a hurry. After the Utes handled BYU and Notre Dame knocked off Miami, Danny Kanell pushed Utah to No. 1 in his weekly top 12, a notable shift for a team that has quietly turned a strong start into something much bigger. Under first-year head coach Morgan Scalley, Utah is 9-0 and riding a 15-game winning streak, the kind of run that makes every ranking debate feel a little more urgent.
The College Football Playoff committee, though, has not moved at the same pace. Utah remains No. 3 in the current playoff picture, leaving the Utes in that familiar spot where they can do little else but keep winning and wait for the numbers to catch up. Tuesdays rankings release now carries extra weight, because the gap between how one national voice sees Utah and how the committee sees Utah is becoming harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]