I don't need to explain to you why the Holy War is a big deal. You clicked on the article -- you already know what's going on here. BYU and Utah are meeting on the football field once again, this time for the second season of shared Big 12 membership. But it's not just proximity that makes this rivalry special; it's not just unified vitriol. Heck, it's not even about the defection of Kyle Whittingham.
This battle is must-watch television because, year after year, the Cougars and Utes take this contest all the way down to the final possession like they're contractually obligated (conspiracy theory loading?). Last season, it was Will Ferrin's late-game heroics and a controversial defensive holding call on fourth down that lifted Kalani Sitake's squad past the Utes, much to the disgust of Utah's 12th man, Mark Harlan, who's out on the field as we speak.
The meeting prior? A surprisingly controlling BYU win in Provo. Even during the Utes' 9-game winning streak beginning in 2010, it was rare for a game to finish with a differential greater than a few points. This is appointment viewing, people, so you'd better clear your calendar this Saturday.
Utah's recent dominance can largely be attributed to the advantages of Pac-12 membership while the Cougars scavenged for relevance as an independent. Better recruiting, increased resources, and the like kept the Cougars at arm's reach. Now on even footing, how have these teams fared? Well, these two have only seen each other on the Big 12 platform once (the aforementioned Will Ferrin dagger), and the Cougars own that series 1-0.
If you value recent history rather than pre-World War II results, you'll find this rivalry is much closer than Utah would lead you to believe.
Now in the current day, what should fans be looking out for during the incoming Holy War matchup? Fireworks -- pure pyrotechnics.
BYU and Utah enter this battle as ranked opponents for the first time since 2009, a game that dipped its toe into overtime and a walk-off Cougar victory in Provo. This game will be in Provo again, and despite what certain podcast hosts would foolishly suggest, it'll be a very pro-Cougars crowd in LaVell Edwards Stadium. BYU boasts one of the strongest home field advantages in all of college football, and won the most recent battle between the two under the LaVell Edwards floodlights, when Jaren Hall, Puka Nacua, and Tyler Allgeier led the Cougs to their first win in over a decade.
That was in 2021. Last season's Utes didn't reach bowl eligibility, but have bounced back to the form that many expected from them during their first go-round in their new conference. They're back and stronger this season, and coach Whittingham is dead-set on taking down BYU, if it's the last thing he does. Though they just won their first Big 12 home game last week against 21st-ranked Arizona State (a stifling 42-10 victory at that), this year's team is a completely different animal from that which we saw last season, and that team nearly stole the soul of the undefeated Cougars.
BYU enters this year's matchup undefeated once again, this time ranked 15th in the AP Poll. But when a road game against Arizona is your team's best win, the judging eyes of the nation are aching to see your ranked squad against some really stiff competition. This year's Cougars, led by a true freshman quarterback in Bear Bachmeier, will have their hands full against a Ute team that has been dominant in every game on their calendar, save for a blowout loss against Texas Tech (but all the cool kids are getting blown out against the Red Raiders this season. Just wait until BYU gets their playdate arranged).
Utah enters this game favored to win, but anyone with history in this rivalry knows that oddsmakers don't know a thing about the Cougars vs. the Utes. Brace for impact: this year's game could be another all-time classic.