Upcoming Event: Football versus Idaho on September 3, 2026
Football
vs Idaho
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
The University of Utah Athletics
Football Plays Rivalry Game at BYU Saturday
9/12/2011 12:00 AM | Football
Sept. 12, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY
QUICKLY
> Utah (1-1, 0-1 Pac-12) plays Brigham Young (1-1) on Saturday, Sept. 17 in Provo, Utah, in a nationally-televised ESPN2 game. The fifth-annual Deseret First Duel Rivalry game will kick off at 7:15 p.m. MT in LaVell Edwards Stadium. Radio is ESPN700 AM (espn700sports.com).> Utah leads the series with BYU 54-34-4, although the Cougars don't recognize six games (split equally 3-3) when it was known as the BY Academy. With or without those six games, this is the second-longest rivalry in Utah history. For a complete series history and last year's recap, see the boxed inset on page 2.
> Saturday's game marks the first time in 113 years that Utah and BYU will play as non-conference opponents. Their last non-conference matchup was on Nov. 24, 1898 (a 5-0 Utah win over BY Academy). The two universities did not play again until 1922 as members of the Rocky Mountain Conference.
> This is only the second September game played between the two schools, with the other falling on Sept. 27, 1958 (a 14-7 BYU win). The two teams have met in November continuously since 1968 and the game has served as the regular-season finale in 28 of the last 32 years (exceptions were in 1980, 1986, 1989 and 2001).
> Utah has won six of the last nine games against BYU (2-2 in Provo).
> Two rivalry trophies are at stake in Saturday's game: the Deseret Duel and the Beehive Boot. Both teams have won the Deseret Duel trophy twice in its four-year history, while Utah has taken possession of the Beehive Boot 11 times and BYU 22 times in the boot's 40-year history. Utah State, which won the Beehive Boot by a media vote over Utah last year (both teams beat BYU but did not play each other), has claimed the boot seven times.
CONNECTIONS
Utah's coaching staff has three BYU graduates, including head coach Kyle Whittingham (1978-81). As a senior, he was the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-WAC linebacker. Defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake (fullback in 1994 and 1997-2000) and receivers coach Aaron Roderick (receiver, 1997-98) also played for BYU. First-year Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow coached for 27 years at BYU from 1973-99, calling the Cougar plays from 1982-1999 and serving as offensive coordinator from 1996-99. Cougar defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi was at Utah from 1994-2001as a graduate assistant and defensive line/ends coach.OUTSIDE THE LINES
The Utah ticket office has sold out of its 2,800 tickets allotted for Saturday's game at BYU ... After this week's game the Utes have a week off before returning to action on Oct. 1 against Washington in Homecoming. Click here for Homecoming activities.U-TWEETS
Utah is tied for 10th nationally in turnover margin (plus 2.0; five gained, one lost) ... Utah's record against Independents follows: Army (0-3), Navy (1-0), Notre Dame (0-1) and BYU (54-34-4) ... Utah is 11-4 in games on ESPN2 ... Utah's all-time record on Sept. 17 is 4-3 (1-3 on the road) ... Utah is out-scoring its opponents in the first three quarters but is scoreless in the fourth quarter after two games ... Until last week's game against USC, the last time a team returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown against Utah was Fresno State in 1999.INSIDE THE HUDDLE
Miles Mason, who started the first game at left tackle in place of injured John Cullen, started at left guard last week when Cullen returned ... Nick Marsh has replaced Sean Sellwood at punter. Marsh also handles kickoffs ... Utah has played four true freshmen, including starting safety Eric Rowe. Other true freshmen who have played are defensive end Nate Fakahafua, running back Harvey Langi and receiver Charles Henderson (on punt returns) ... making his first career start against USC was junior free safety Keith McGill.LAST WEEK
Trailing USC 17-14 with 11 seconds left in regulation, Utah had a chance to send the first Pac-12 game into overtime, but Coleman Petersen's 41-yard field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown as time expired and Utah lost 23-14. Utah's defense was stellar, forcing three Trojan turnovers, two that led to Ute touchdowns. Turning in double-digit tackle nights were Chaz Walker (11 tackles) and Matt Martinez (10 tackles, 1 sack), while Ryan Lacy added seven tackles, an interception and a pass breakup. DeVonte Christopher led the offense with 136 receiving yards and caught Utah's first touchdown pass.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
DB
/ Football
P
/ Football
LB
/ FootballCrimson Corner with Bill Riley - College football analyst Yogi Roth
Wednesday, May 06
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Utah Football Head Coach Morgan Scalley
Wednesday, April 29
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Utah Football legend Brian Johnson
Friday, February 20
Utah Football Head Coach Morgan Scalley Introductory Press Conference | 1.06.25
Tuesday, January 06