BYU and Utah are no strangers to close games. Nearly every game in the Holy War has come down to the last possession. Last year was no exception, as BYU went on a comeback drive in the final minute, ending with a 44-yard Will Ferrin field goal. BYU looked dead on fourth down before a defensive holding penalty was called against the Utes, giving the Cougars a first down.
BYU came into Salt Lake City with a lot of external pressure. Critics said that BYU's 2021 win was just a fluke and that they couldn't do it again. BYU had a lot of doubts from everywhere, especially those saying BYU couldn't win at Rice-Eccles Stadium. BYU had a chip on its shoulder, and it did not disappoint. The Cougars were prepared and made it happen.
The game was a shootout from start to finish. Both teams scored on a good chunk of possessions. BYU forced Utah to punt with one timeout. Jake Retzlaff was stopped on first on second down, before throwing an incomplete pass, and they were tackled short on fourth. However, Kalani Sitake called a timeout before the snap, and it was too loud to hear the initial whistle. BYU would get a second chance. Retzlaff was sacked, but there was a flag for defensive holding.
BYU would then drive the ball down to the Utah 27, making it a 44-yard field goal attempt for Ferrin. When asked if he had a preference for where the ball was placed between the hash marks, he said he was good with the ball being anywhere. Ferrin stepped up, took the snap, and drilled it through the uprights with three seconds to go.
BYU kicked the ball off to Utah outside of the end zone, and Utah began lateralling the ball rugby-style and, for a second, looked like they could score. One lateral was overthrown, and BYU fell on it, making it look like the Cougars had won. There was a flag, and for a second, it looked like Utah had found a miracle of its own. Any hope for the Utes was dashed quickly when the referee called unsportsmanlike conduct on the Utah sideline.
BYU had won, and it was a beautiful ending. BYU had proved that not only was the 2021 win a gimmick, but that they could win in a hostile environment like Rice-Eccles Stadium. BYU had found another pinch of Kalani magic, and the Cougars remained undefeated. The Cougars partied hard on the streets of Provo after the game, with students and fans storming the streets with shouting, singing, honking, and plenty of soda. This went down as another Comeback Cougars classic. It was a night to remember for BYU, and it may never be forgotten.