Ranked Holy War Sets Stage For Big 12 Playoff Bids

Brigham Young University and the University of Utah will face off in the AP Top 10 for the first time in their history. The matchup marks a shift from a regional rivalry to a national contest that directly influences College Football Playoff access.

The two schools have competed for over a century. Utah held dominance in the early years as the established flagship in Salt Lake City. The dynamic changed in 1972 when LaVell Edwards arrived as head coach at BYU. Edwards implemented a pass-heavy offense that turned the Cougars into a national power. BYU won 19 of the next 21 meetings against Utah between 1972 and 1992.

The series is defined by late-game finishes. In 1984, Robbie Bosco led No. 3 BYU to a 24-14 victory in Salt Lake City. That win gave BYU an 11-0 regular season and propelled them to the consensus national championship. In 2000, BYU completed a fourth-quarter comeback in Edwards' final career game. A 4th-and-13 pass by Brandon Doman secured a 34-27 win. In 2006, John Beck threw a touchdown pass to Jonny Harline on the final play of regulation. The 33-31 victory in Salt Lake City created the famous catchphrase, Harline's Still Open.

Utah countered with a nine-game winning streak from 2010 to 2019. Kyle Whittingham led the Utes to dominance through physical line play and strong defense. The streak ended in 2021 when BYU won 24-17 at home in Provo.

Conference realignment has reunited the archrivals in the expanded Big 12. The games are no longer non-conference exhibitions. The winner now controls access to conference championship spots and automatic playoff bids. Both programs are currently positioned as Top 10 national contenders.

The rivalry has evolved from a local spectacle to a fixture on the national championship calendar. The outcome of this meeting will determine which team holds the advantage in the conference race heading into the postseason.