BYU/Utah Rivalry: Top Performances Of The 2010s

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Utah won every game against BYU since 2010 but there have been some outstanding games and performances when Utah and BYU have battled on the football field.

KSL Sports looked at the top performers from both sides in every game during the 2010s.

2010: Matt Martinez, Utah Junior Linebacker

Honorable Mention: Utah linebacker Chaz Walker

Martinez was all over the field as he tallied 17 total tackles, including seven takedowns and 1.5 tackles-for-loss. He led the Utah in a game that was dominated by the defense. They held BYU to 65 rushing yards and forced three turnovers. It was only fitting that the defense won the game for the Utes as defensive back Brandon Burton blocked BYU’s game-winning field goal attempt.

Utes linebacker Chaz Walker collected 14 total tackles, one sack and a tackle-for-loss.

Utah won the game 17-16 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. It was the last time that the two teams competed against each other in the Mountain West Conference.

The Utes finished the season with a 10-3 record (7-1 MWC) and lost to No. 10 Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl 26-3.

The Cougars finished with a 7-6 record (5-3 MWC) and beat UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl 52-24.

Utah had two players get drafted that included cornerback Brandon Burton going to the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round and offensive lineman Caleb Schlauderaff being selected in the sixth round by the Green Bay Packers.

 

2011: John White, Utah Junior Running Back

Honorable Mention: Utah’s Defense

John White racked up 174 yards and three touchdowns in the Utes 54-10 win over BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium. He scored two of the three touchdowns in the fourth quarter including a 62-yard run to give Utah a 40-10 lead.

Utah’s defense forced 7 turnovers, one interception and six fumbles. They scored two touchdowns in the Utes second straight win over BYU in their first meeting as members of the Pac-12 and BYU as an independent.

The Utes finished with a 5-5 mark (4-5 Pac-12) and beat Georgia Tech 30-27 in overtime in the Sun Bowl.

BYU ended with a 10-3 record and beat Tulsa 24-21 in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Utah offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round.

 

2012: Mo Lee, Senior Defensive Back

Honorable Mention: BYU wide receiver Cody Hoffman

In the third quarter with the Utes leading BYU 10-7, defensive back Mo Lee recovered a fumble and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown. That play gave Utah a 17-7 lead. Lee finished with four tackles and a half of a tackle-for-loss.

BYU wide receiver Cody Hoffman had an outstanding performance against the Utes as he caught eight passes for 120 yards and one touchdown. His only score was in the second quarter to tie the game at 7.

It was a wild finish as the clock expired the first time on a play that ended with a BYU incomplete pass. Utah fans rushed the field but the officials reviewed the play and showed that the clock shouldn’t have been running before the snap. BYU was given one more play with one second left.

They had to clear the field of the fans as BYU attempted a 51-yard field goal that the Utes blocked. The crowd stormed the field for a second time while the play was still live. Officials gave Utah a 15-yard penalty for storming the field during live play. BYU was awarded another attempt, this time with a different kicker and Riley Stephenson missed the attempt and Utah finally won the game.

Utah picked up their third straight win against BYU 24-21 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

The Utes ended their season with a 5-7 record (3-6 Pac-12), they did not qualify for a bowl game.

BYU finished with an 8-5 record and beat San Diego State in the Poinsettia Bowl 23-6.

Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei was drafted in the first round (14th overall) to the Carolina Panthers. Defensive end Joe Krugar was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round.

The Cougars had defensive end Ezekiel Ansah was selected in the first round (5th overall) to the Detroit Lions.

 

2013: Dres Anderson, Utah Junior Wide Receiver

Honorable Mention: BYU quarterback Taysom Hill

Utah only scored two touchdowns against BYU and added two field goals. Anderson didn’t find the end zone but quarterback Travis Wilson found him plenty of times. He had eight catches for 141 yards.

BYU quarterback Taysom Hill was sacked five times but still managed to throw for 260 yards and ran the ball 20 times for 99 yards on the ground.

Utah beat BYU for the fourth consecutive game 20-13 at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The Utes finished with a 5-7 record (2-7 Pac-12), they did not qualify for a bowl game.

BYU ended with an 8-5 record and were defeated by Washington 31-16 in the Fight Hunger Bowl.

Utah had two players go into the NFL as cornerback Keith McGill was selected in the fourth round by the Oakland Raiders and linebacker Trevor Reilly was taken by the New York Jets in the seventh round.

BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy was the only Cougars player to be drafted as the Detroit Lions selected him in the second round.

 

2014: No Rivalry Game

The Utes took a short hiatus from the rivalry game in order to sign a home-and-home series with the University of Michigan.

 

2015: Joe Williams, Utah Junior Running Back

Honorable Mention: Utah’s Defense

One of the most bizarre rivalry games to have been played in recent memory. Utah was in their second and final year of their hiatus from the rivalry game but both BYU and Utah received a bid to play each other in the Las Vegas Bowl.

The Utes scored all 35 points in the first quarter, all of which came off of BYU’s five turnovers. Joe Williams scored both of his touchdowns on one-yard runs. He racked up 91 yards on the ground.

Utah’s defense scored two interceptions for touchdowns and picked off another pass and recovered two fumbles. They didn’t allow BYU to complete their 35-point comeback in the last three quarters of the game.

The Utes beat BYU 35-28 in the Las Vegas Bowl for their fifth straight win over the Cougars.

Utah ended their season with a 10-3 record (6-3 Pac-12), they won a share of the Pac-12 south division but lost the tiebreaker to USC.

BYU finished with a 9-4 record.

Utes running back Devontae Booker was the only player from Utah that was drafted as the Denver Broncos selected him in the fourth round.

The Cougars also had just one player taken in the draft with defensive end Bronson Kaufusi going to the Baltimore Ravens in the third round.

 

2016: Sunia Tauteoli, Utah Junior Linebacker

Honorable Mention: BYU quarterback Taysom Hill

It was one of the ugliest games in recent rivalry history as Utah turned the ball over six times and BYU committing two turnovers. Utah linebacker Sunia Tauteoli started the game by returning an interception 41-yards for a touchdown on BYU quarterback Taysom Hill’s first pass attempt. Tauteoli finished with six tackles to go with the pick-six.

Hill kept the Cougars in the game as he put BYU in front in the second quarter on a 39-yard touchdown run to lead 13-7. He ran in his second touchdown late in the game from 7-yards out to put BYU within one point. Head coach Kalani Sitake elected to go for the two point conversion and the win but as Hill attempted to run the ball up the middle to the end zone, the Utes stopped him.

Taysom Hill finished with 176 passing yards and 90 rushing yards with two touchdowns on the ground.

Utah beat BYU for the sixth straight time with a 20-19 win at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

The Utes ended their season with a 9-4 record (5-4 Pac-12) and beat Indiana 26-24 in the Foster Farms Bowl.

BYU finished with a 9-4 record and beat Wyoming 24-21 in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Utah had a school record 8 players drafted in the NFL. Offensive lineman Garett Bolles went in the first round (20th overall) to the Denver Broncos. Saftey Marcus Williams joined the New Orleans Saints in the second round.

Running back Joe Williams went to the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round. The Miami Dolphins selected offensive lineman Isaac Asiata in the fifth round. Cornerback Brian Allen was drafted in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Offensive lineman J.J. Dielman was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round. Fellow offensive lineman Sam Tevi went to the Los Angeles Chargers in the sixth round and defensive end Pita Taumoepenu joined the 49ers in the sixth round.

BYU running back Jamaal Williams was selected in the fourth round by the Green Bay Packers.

 

2017: Tyler Huntley, Utah Sophomore Quarterback

Honorable Mention: Utah wide receiver Darren Carrington II

Huntley scored the Utes only touchdown on the ground in the third quarter to give Utah a commanding 16-0 lead. He finished with 300 passing yards and 89 yards rushing and one score.

Darren Carrington was Huntley’s main target as he collected seven catches for 129 yards.

Utah beat BYU for the seventh straight time with a 19-13 win at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The Utes finished with a 7-6 record (3-6 Pac-12) and beat West Virginia in the Heart of Dallas Bowl 30-14.

BYU ended their season with a 4-9 record and did not qualify for a bowl game.

Utah defensive end Kylie Fitts was picked by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round.

The Cougars had one player selected in the NFL draft which was linebacker Fred Warner going to the San Francisco 49ers in the third round.