BYU Football: The case for and against continuing rivalry games

Dec 19, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Utes tight end Harrison Handley (88) is tackled by Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Kai Nacua (12) and linebacker Teu Kautai (25) in the Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium. Utah defeated BYU 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Utes tight end Harrison Handley (88) is tackled by Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Kai Nacua (12) and linebacker Teu Kautai (25) in the Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium. Utah defeated BYU 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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PROVO, UT – SEPTEMBER 11: Fans of the BYU Cougars rush the field after their upset win over the Utah Utes at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 11, 2021 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT – SEPTEMBER 11: Fans of the BYU Cougars rush the field after their upset win over the Utah Utes at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 11, 2021 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

Rivalries are one of the greatest BYU Football traditions.

BYU Football will be entering the Big 12 in just under 14 months. Utah is a member of the Pac 12 and Utah State and Boise State are both members of the Mountain West. With that comes three different sets of rules and guidelines to go by.  It also makes things tougher for scheduling.

BYU as an Independent was sort of a wild card. If a team like Boise State or Utah State played the Cougars, it was neither viewed as a P5 or a G5 game. It was just a game against a good opponent. The same could be said about Utah, although they did appear to see BYU as their toughest nonconference game (thanks).

Now however, BYU will be a clear P5 team. Will the Aggies and Broncos want to play BYU and another P5 every season anymore? What about Utah? Now they really can’t play another P5 team if scheduling the Cougars. And even BYU may have questions as to whether they really want almost all of their non conference games to be a shuffle of the same three teams.

With all of that, is it time to end the rivalries? Let’s discuss.

Schedule

Schedule