When you think of college football rivalries, the University of Utah and Brigham Young University probably aren’t the first teams to pop into your mind. But the “Holy War” remains one of the nastiest games in the nation.

Series History

The rivalry has been characterized by three distinct periods. It was barely even a rivalry from the early 1900s to late 1960s, with Utah winning 45 of the first 53 games.  Once LaVell Edwards became coach of the Cougars from 1972 until 2000, however, they went 22-8 against the Utes, turning the rivalry upside down. During this period BYU was awarded their only national championship. 

In the modern era of the rivalry, Utah has moved back on top with head coaches Urban Meyer and Kyle Whittingham at the helm, leading the series 14-6 since 2000, including a nine-game winning streak between 2010 and 2021. The move to the PAC-12 conference certainly played a role, as Utah simply recruited greater talent than BYU, who remained independent while Utah was a power conference school.

These periods of domination are deceiving though, as the majority of the games — especially recently — have been decided by one score. 

Wildest Games

When these two meet, the game is so big that it leads to mistake-filled, crazy games.

In 2005, with BYU looking for revenge after the Utes beat them to go to the Fiesta Bowl the previous year, Utah blew a 24-3 lead in the second half of the ballgame. They were able to survive to make it to overtime with the game tied at 34. On the first play, Utah backup QB Brett Ratliff, who was in after an injury to starter Brian Johnson a week earlier, threw a touchdown and the Utah defense came in clutch to secure the 41-34 win in Provo. 

In 2006, BYU responded with an incredible win of their own. Down by four and with the ball at the Utah 11 yard-line, quarterback Jason Beck held the ball for more than 10 seconds as time expired before he found a wide open Johnny Harline in the left side of the endzone to win 33-31, snapping a four game losing streak to the Utes. 

In 2009, the last ranked matchup in the series, BYU went up 20-6 in their home stadium before Utah came back to tie right before the end of regulation. That didn’t faze the Cougars though, as their defense held Utah to a field goal in overtime while they scored a touchdown to win. Famously after the game, Max Hall said, “I don’t like Utah. In fact, I hate them.” 

In 2010, Utah responded to the then-graduated Hall’s quote with an impressive win to start their nine-game win streak. Leading 17-16 with four seconds left, BYU lined up to try and win with a 42-yard field goal, but Brandon Burton saved the day for Utah coming around the corner and blocking the kick. 

In 2012, BYU was driving down by three, and it looked like time had run out for the Cougars after the clock hit zero, ending a potential game tying drive. Utah fans crowded the field, but the refs ended up sending them back to the sidelines as they put one second back on the clock after a review determined the final incomplete pass landed with one second on the clock. BYU lined up for a field goal, and their attempt to win was seemingly foiled again as Utah blocked Justin Sorensen’s kick, but the game wasn’t over yet. As the play was still live, BYU tried to pick up the ball and take it for a touchdown on one side of the field, while on the other side of the field, chaos broke out as fans rushed the field mid-play. With coaches scrambling and fans celebrating, the refs called a 15-yard penalty for fans rushing the field, leading to yet another opportunity for the Cougars. Sorensen’s 2nd kick floated in the air and doinked off the left upright as Utah fans got to rush the field for the 3rd and final time on a night that went down in Holy War lore. 

In 2016, Utah, in the midst of their streak, survived a game where they turned the ball six times. Fortunately for the Utes, the defense came through with a pick-six on the first play of the game and a late two-point conversion stop to win 20-19. 

In 2018, BYU travelled up to Salt Lake City to try and salvage their season. Going up against the PAC-12 South Champions, the Cougars came out with an inspired performance that they hadn’t had against the Utes in a long time. The Cougars got out to a 27-7 lead late in the 3rd quarter, but unfortunately for them, the Utes woke up just before it was too late. In the second largest comeback in school history, the Utes outscored BYU 28-0 in the final 16 minutes of the game to win 35-27. 

In the most recent edition of the rivalry, BYU came into the game with a surprising 8-0 record and top ten ranking, ready to take on a Utah squad in the midst of their most disappointing season since 2013 after they were picked to win the Big-12 in the preseason media poll.  Somehow, the Utes were up 21-19 in the closing minutes and had seemingly stopped BYU to win the game, but a late, controversial holding call extended the drive and led to a BYU field goal to win the game and continue their unprecedented run. Moments later, Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan spoke to the media and railed against the referees, saying “this game was stolen from us.” 

Hatred on and off the field 

Just the close games would be enough to make the Holy War one of the most heated rivalries in the sport, but off the field factors fuel that hatred even more. 

First off, the fans of the teams are insanely similar. They use the same tactics against each other just in different lights. For example, BYU fans flex their one national championship to Utah’s zero, but Ute fans respond by saying it’s “fake” and shouldn’t count because in the Holiday Bowl to end the year, BYU played a beat a 6-6 Michigan Wolverines team. Meanwhile Utah fans flex their 2004 Fiesta Bowl win over Pittsburgh and 2008 Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, saying those wins are more legitimate than BYU’s championship, while BYU points to the national championship banner hanging in the stadium. 

Second off, religion plays a huge role. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, colloquially known as Mormonism, is embedded within the culture of the state of Utah. BYU is a private LDS university, and the University of Utah was founded by Brigham Young, who led the Mormons to settle in Salt Lake City and became the second president of the LDS church. With this comes a superiority complex where fans of both schools, who are members of the church, want to be “holier” than the fans of the other school. 

If anything, it reiterates how toxic religion makes the rivalry. 

Proximity also plays a role. Only 44 miles separate the two schools, which means you live amongst fans of the other team. You work with them, go to school with them, go to church with them and see them at the various locations around Utah. 

I lived in Utah my entire life before coming to Missouri. From a young age, you are forced to decide between the red and the blue. Your parents and grandparents will tell you story after story from their experiences surrounding this game. You relentlessly argue with your friends and family about  one game, 365 days a year. 

Having been to three different Holy Wars, the atmosphere in the stadium is unlike any other game. No matter how bad or good each team is, the game is always close, and fans are consistently loud with the backdrop of the beautiful Rocky Mountains at each stadium. 

This Saturday, the two will be facing in the 103rd edition of the Holy War in Provo, with the stakes being higher than ever as it is the first ranked matchup since 2009 and Big-12 championship implications are on the line. 

It’s up for debate whether it is the biggest game between these two teams, but no matter what, fans will show up loud and proud, insults will be thrown around, and one team and fanbase will have bragging rights for the next year in America’s most underrated rivalry.