BYU-Utah One Of Top Rivalry Games For 2020 College Football Season
Jun 23, 2020, 11:43 AM
BYU kicker Jake Oldroyd (39) makes a field goal during the first half of an NCAA football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (Colter Peterson, Deseret News)
(Colter Peterson, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – We all know here in the state of Utah that the BYU-Utah rivalry is top-notch. But nationally, the rivalry doesn’t get the same praise as it probably should.
Lindy’s Sports showed the BYU-Utah rivalry some love by ranking the game as one of the 20 best rivalries for the upcoming 2020 football season in its national college football preview publication.
BYU vs. Utah checked in at number 17 in Lindy’s best rivalry games that you need to watch this fall. The top rivalry from the ranking was the annual matchup between Army and Navy, the last game of the regular season each year.
Other notable rivalries that made the list included Alabama-Auburn, Michigan-Ohio State, Oklahoma-Texas, and Notre Dame-USC.
BYU and Utah are scheduled to square off again on September 3rd – assuming the season starts on time – at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
BYU vs. Utah history
Utah has won the last nine meetings in the series and has come away victories in 10 of the last 11. BYU’s last victory came in an overtime win in 2009 when the two schools were still members of the Mountain West Conference. It’s been 14 years since BYU was victorious at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Utah beats BYU for the 9th straight time. It ties a mark for most consecutive wins in the rivalry set by BYU in 1987 and Utah in 1937. #BYUvsUtah @KSL5TV @kslsports https://t.co/mswkFuB8kZ
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) August 30, 2019
The Utes nine-game winning streak is tied for the longest winning streak in the history of the rivalry. 10 straight would mark a new record in the history of this rivalry that dates back to 1922 (according to BYU’s records).
This season and 2021 will be the last two games of the rivalry before a two-year break in the series. Utah will play the Florida Gators in a home-and-home during those seasons.
Starting in 2024, the rivalry will resume once again where games are scheduled through the 2028 season.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
