Roundtable: Will BYU-Utah State Ever Become a Big Football Rivalry?

Three of our Lawless Republic writers discussed if BYU & Utah State will ever become a big football rivalry. Here’s their responses.

Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper)

I’ve always wondered about the possibility of BYU vs. Utah State turning into a big-time football rivalry. The basketball series between these two always produces terrific games, but the football series has always lacked something. I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Utah State is experiencing unprecedented success the past few seasons in their program, but it’s still a team that doesn’t conjure up much emotion. It might be different when the two schools start playing more in the month of November to end the season, but I still struggle to see it. Fun Friday night ESPN game each year, and that’s about it.

Danny Holmgren (@dahomes)

While it would be awesome to have a rivalry with someone again (one of the shortfalls of independence is making your own schedule from scratch), it is hard to call Utah State a “rivalry” just because we are in the same state. It has been a very one-sided matchup with the Aggies.

Utah State certainly improved their program in the last 5 years, thanks largely to now-departed-to-Cheeseland head coach Gary Andersen. It remains to be seen whether the Aggies will continue that upswing or escape back into the football doldrums from whence they came.

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Basketball has been a different story because there have been victories on both sides. It seems that a neutral site has become the fairest way for them to play, since the Cougs rarely survive a trip to the Spectrum and the Aggies fair equally poorly at the Marriott Center. The hostility from both fan bases has created some epic game atmospheres and with the game on the court being close and relatively equal, the basketball matchup presents a definite “rivalry.” The Aggies solid program speaks to the existence of the rivalry, with Aggie HC Stew Morrell’s squads frankly having some better teams than BYU over the years. That hasn’t come quickly though. Morrell’s tenure as HC began shortly after we put a man on the moon and he has fielded consistently good teams since then.

If the football program can continue building momentum over the next 6-8 years you will inevitably find two things: 1) the Aggies will win a few games against the Cougars, and 2) a “rivalry” may take shape. Until that point, I can hardly call this matchup a “rivalry” for BYU, though the Ags may see it differently.

Austin Adamson (@cougarstin)

I think the Utah State game is more of a rivalry than many fans will give it credit for. Lately, USU has been a better team and has given BYU a few tough games, including a loss in 2010. I think the fact that it’s an in-state game and played on the same weekend every year makes it at least a bit of a rivalry.

The fact that BYU and Utah State have not battled for conference championships and undefeated seasons is why it is not as heated of a rivalry as others. One of the reasons BYU and Utah have become such big rivals over the years is because they were competing for the same prize for so long. Add that to BYU and Utah going for the same recruits, having half of Utah’s coaching staff be BYU players, and close proximity, and nothing will equal the BYU/Utah rivalry.

As time goes on, if Utah State continues to improve and the game moves to November, the game will become more heated. If Utah State returns to its old ways, I’d expect Boise State to be more of a long term rival in independence.

What do you think Cougar fans? Will the Battle for the Old Wagon Wheel evolve into something bigger on the gridiron? Chime in.

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