No. 3 Utah hosts No. 9 BYU in the biggest iteration of the Holy War rivalry on Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The Utes enter 8-0, winning six games by at least two touchdowns, most recently a 49-25 victory over Cincinnati with 534 yards of offense. BYU, despite a double-overtime loss to UCF and a narrow win over Arizona State, boasts wins over Arizona and Notre Dame, keeping their College Football Playoff resume strong.
Historical context: BYU dominated the LaVell Edwards era (19 of 21 matchups), but since 2002 Utah holds a 14-3 edge. The Cougars have won three straight since 2021, including both Big 12 meetings by a combined four points. The 2026 game could be an all-time classic.
Offensive Innovations
Utah offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven, hired from Utah State, has revamped the unit, employing a two-quarterback system featuring backup Byrd Ficklin. The Utes rank ninth nationally in total offense and second in the Big 12.
BYU Quarterback Bear Bachmeier
Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier has emerged as a Big 12 surprise, throwing for 1,750 yards, rushing for 336 yards, and accounting for 19 touchdowns. In the upset of Notre Dame, he passed, rushed, and caught touchdowns. However, his rushing has been limited recently, with only 15 yards on 16 carries against Arizona State.
Utah Offensive Line Concerns
Utah lost all five starting offensive linemen to the NFL last season, but the unit has rallied behind breakout left tackle Zereoue Williams. Left guard Kelvin Obot is out for the season with an injury, and Colorado's defensive line previously caused problems. BYU's pass rush could be a decisive factor.
Broadcast and Prediction
The game kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 7, televised on ABC with a live stream on Fubo. The spread favors Utah by 5.5 points, but the rivalry's recent average margin of 2.0 points suggests a closer contest. CBS Sports analysts are split, with a slight lean toward BYU covering the spread. SportsLine's computer model, which is 80-77 on top-rated college football picks this season, has simulated the game 10,000 times.
