BYU and Utah Care of Business, Setting Stage for Huge Rivalry Showdown
The Utes rolled past the Bearcats on the road, while the Cougars held on against the pesky Sun Devils, a team fighting for a bowl berth, in a tightly-contested game. Published: Nov 1, 2026, 4:00 a.m. MST
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BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) carries the ball at the goal line during game against Arizona State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
By Dick Harmon
Dick Harmon is a sports columnist for the Deseret News in his fourth decade reporting on college athletics.
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It’s rivalry week, and No. 6 Utah and No. 8 BYU are headed for a classic showdown in Rice-Eccles Stadium Saturday. Both teams have two top-10 wins and two different styles, with pride on the line.
The Utes, fresh off a huge win over Houston, shellacked Cincinnati 49-25, taking a 41-6 halftime lead. BYU, always dramatic, led 17-3 over Arizona State at home before beating the Sun Devils 27-20 with a rookie quarterback.
Utah’s season has been an explosion of big plays. BYU, meanwhile, has struggled with turnovers and miscues, yet remains ranked.
“We’re getting oddities out of the way,” said BYU coach Kalani Sitake.
BYU had two turnovers, an interception and a fumble against ASU. Utah will bring a powerful running game to the rivalry matchup, with Wayshawn Parker, Daniel Bray, and Devon Dampier all contributing on the ground.
For BYU, LJ Martin’s absence has been felt, but a committee of Bear Bachmeier, Sione Moa, and Legend Glasker has stepped up.
As the games seem to blur together, these rivalry contests feel like they’re from another world.