The highly anticipated matchup between No. 7 BYU and No. 3 Utah is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The game, which features a 10 a.m. local kickoff, carries major implications for the Big 12 conference race.
The rivalry, which was ranked 22nd among the 25 rivalries defining college football, is marked by a disputed history. Utah counts six meetings from the 1890s that BYU excludes, giving the Utes a 62-37-4 lead in official records, while BYU records the series as 59-34-4. The matchup is shaped by geographic proximity and cultural differences between BYU, a private university owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Utah, a public institution.
Historical milestones include Utah's 2004 season under coach Urban Meyer and quarterback Alex Smith. Following a 52-21 win against BYU, the Utes finished the regular season 11-0 and defeated Pittsburgh 35-7 in the Fiesta Bowl, becoming the first team from a non-automatic-qualifying conference to earn a BCS bid. BYU's notable victory occurred in 2006, when the Cougars overcame a 24-14 deficit to win 33-31 against Utah on a touchdown pass from John Beck to Jonny Harline as time expired.
The rivalry has seen shifts due to conference realignment. Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011 and BYU went independent in football, causing the teams to miss meetings in 2014, 2020, 2022 and 2023. Both programs have since joined the Big 12, with BYU in 2023 and Utah in 2024. Utah won nine consecutive meetings from 2010-19, while BYU has won three straight games since that period.
The upcoming game will see No. 7 BYU (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) face No. 3 Utah (8-0, 5-0). Under the Big 12's updated discriminatory-conduct policy, fan misbehavior can result in fines and penalties.
