The rivalry between Brigham Young University and the University of Utah—famously known as the “Holy War”—stands among the most intense and deeply felt series in college athletics. Spanning over a century of physical battles, dramatic final-minute finishes, and deep regional divides, the rivalry reaches an unprecedented milestone as both programs meet ranked inside the national AP Top 10.
A Century Of Beehive State Dominance
The Holy War traces its roots back to the late 19th century. Early decades were largely dominated by Utah, who held long unbeaten runs as the established flagship university in Salt Lake City. However, the modern dynamic of the rivalry shifted dramatically in 1972 with the arrival of LaVell Edwards as head coach at BYU.
Edwards revolutionized college football with a pass-heavy offense, turning BYU into a national power. Under his leadership, the Cougars flipped the script on the rivalry, winning 19 out of 21 meetings from 1972 through 1992.
Iconic Moments That Shaped The Rivalry
The Holy War is defined by unforgettable finishes that cemented its national reputation:
- 1984 (BYU 24, Utah 14): Robbie Bosco led No. 3 BYU past Utah in Salt Lake City to seal an 11-0 regular season. The victory propelled the Cougars to No. 1 in the nation, eventually leading to BYU’s consensus 1984 national championship.
- 2000 (BYU 34, Utah 27): In LaVell Edwards’ final career game, the Cougars mounted a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback converted on a 4th-and-13 pass by Brandon Doman to secure a win and send their hall-of-fame coach off victorious.
- 2006 (BYU 33, Utah 31): John Beck connected with Jonny Harline on a dramatic touchdown pass on the final play of regulation in Salt Lake City, spawning the famous “Harline’s Still Open” catchphrase.
- The Utah Streak (2010–2019): Under Kyle Whittingham, Utah produced a historic nine-game winning streak in the series, supported by dominant defense and physical line play as the Utes transitioned into the Pac-12. BYU finally broke the streak in 2021 behind a 24-17 home victory in Provo.
A New Era In The Big 12 Conference
The realignment era reunited the two archrivals under the same conference banner once again in the expanded Big 12. Moving away from non-conference status, the Holy War now directly controls access to conference championship spots and automatic College Football Playoff bids.
With both Utah and BYU positioned as Top 10 national contenders, the rivalry has evolved from a fierce regional spectacle into an essential fixture on the national championship calendar.
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