Utah fans still believe the Utes are better than BYU football, ignoring all facts

There is a narrative in the Beehive State that has been building momentum in recent weeks, and it's absolutely absurd. Many Utah fans still believe that the Utes' football team is better than BYU this year. In the face of logic, reason, truth, and history, this is a state divided not over what truly happened, but rather what could happen if the teams were to square off once again.

Related: BYU vs Utah recap: defensive slugfest climaxes in a fourth quarter Cougar capture

It's mania. It's delusion. It's coping beyond rationality. It's how they're handling the sting of defeat up North.

I recently put out a tweet outlining my confusion over this debate, citing strength of record and head-to-head result as reasons BYU stands supreme atop their Rocky Mountain throne. In outrage, the Utes of X took to their keyboards and laid out every possible reason why the hypothetical Utes would dominate the hypothetical Cougars in a hypothetical rematch.

In the replies, fans in red outlined the following arguments for why Utah is the superior team this year.

Reason 1: Utah would be favored in a rematch

This is true, if Josh Pate's JP Poll and the computer metrics are to be believed. In Microsoft Excel, truly the Utes pose as the stronger team in a hypothetical rematch.

But here's the issue: Utah was also favored in October. Despite the game's LaVell Edwards Stadium setting, the Utes were favored by 4.5 points, and wound up losing by three. In that seven point swing, BYU played more disciplined, patient, and better-executed football in all three phases of the game, and won in a game that really wasn't as close as the scoreboard reflects.

Keep in mind, BYU led the game by 10 with 2 minutes remaining, opting to take an end zone shot on 4th and 5 instead of kicking a >40 yard field goal, and Utah scored a touchdown in the final minute of the game when the Cougars failed to convert.

We can play make-believe all day, but when the two butted heads on the field of play, it was BYU who came away with the victory, not Utah.

Reason 2: Utah's margin of victory against common opponents

This reason at least comes with basis in fact: many of Utah's victories over common opponents with BYU were more dominant on the scoreboard. This is why the CFP committee likes the Utes so much, and why many metrics believe Utah has a very potent team.

Against common opponents, Utah has won (or lost) by similar or more favorable margins (with BYU's result in paranthesis):

West Virginia: +34 (+14)
Colorado: +46 (+3)

Truly, in these two matchups, the Utes' results were very impressive, and shows that Utah was able to crush their foes while BYU merely won.

Except for in one game, where Utah lost against Texas Tech by more in Salt Lake City (with Tech's backup quarterback, no less) than BYU did in Lubbock. Utah lost by 24 in a game that fans will claim the Utes played better than the scoreboard would suggest. BYU lost by 22 in the Cougars' most uncharacteristic and hideous contest of the schedule.

This data point feels completely irrelevant, as every weekend of football is impacted by a myriad of factors, including health, location, momentum, morale, etc. When it comes to results and all other factors are comparable (as is the case with ranking, record, and strength of schedule, but I'll go into that in a moment), the head-to-head result has to carry more weight than numbers in a spreadsheet.

Reason 3: The better team doesn't always win

In a vacuum, this point is true. Last season, BYU lost to Kansas after opening 9-0. Florida State beat Alabama this year. Penn State lost to UCLA. Sports can be unpredictable, volatile, and chaotic, and that's what makes them so fun.

But it's a fallacy to suggest that because upsets happen, therefore any victory could be considered an upset. If BYU were 6-4 and struggling through the Big 12 schedule, I would have to concede that BYU's victory over Utah was an upset, but BYU's success this season suggests that any Utah fan pining for superiority has tunnel vision, refusing to admit that their team might just be the second-best in the state.

In addition to winning the head-to-head battle, BYU has a stronger record on the season (9-1 to Utah's 8-2) against tougher competition (strength of schedule is 26 compared to Utah's 46) and therefore holds a superior strength of record (6 to Utah's 18). BYU isn't the little team that could -- they're the winningest Big 12 team over the past two seasons.

I can't believe I'm on the internet having to explain how the winning team is the better team, yet here I am.

One Ute fan summed up the sentiment incredibly well.

As for the "eye test", computer-generated metrics, and clusters of data entries, they can all suggest Utah is the better team. I'll concede that on paper, Utah may have a superior team.

But these are the facts: BYU has won three straight games against the Utes, and haven't lost since 2019. Since then, BYU joined the Big 12 Conference, improved their recruiting with a leveled playing field, and seem to be blowing the U out of the water when it comes to NIL offerings and support. Utah and BYU appear to be the best non-Texas Tech football teams in the league, and boast impressive resumes and results to this point in the year.

Can't it be true that both teams are very good? Can't it be true that the Big 12 Conference has three College Football Playoff-quality squads this season? The discourse around college football in the modern age is sickening; many believe that acknowledging one team's excellence discounts the success of the other, when in fact the opposite is true. BYU and Utah are on the same team this year, and dragging the other down only lessens the value of both sides.

BYU was the better team this year -- they proved it by winning football games. Gripe all they want, Ute fans only belittle themselves by suggesting the opposite.