SALT LAKE CITY — Five games spread over to a total of six years, that’s how long it has been since BYU has beaten Utah in a football game.

If the long losing streak isn’t bad enough for BYU on its own merit, to make matters worse the rivalry game now means more to the Cougars than it does to the Utes. Comparing it to a relationship, the team that doesn’t care as much has the upper hand.

Save all the wailing and gnashing of teeth, BYU fans. Under the current circumstances, the bitter rivalry has practically boiled down to another non-conference game on Utah’s schedule.

For the Utes, the BYU game isn’t like playing Southern Utah or San Jose State. But it also isn’t to the level of USC or UCLA, two Pac 12 South Division opponents that potentially stand in the way of Utah reaching its primary goal.

Take it from somebody who has been in the middle of two great rivalries – the now-retired Norm Chow has coached at BYU and Utah as well as USC and UCLA. The simple truth is the Utes are playing for a bigger prize than are the Cougars, who as an independent do not have a realistic shot at any championship.

“The game means a lot more, obviously, with the conference alignment to BYU than it does to Utah,” Chow said. “If Utah doesn’t get it, it’s not a big deal. It is a big deal, but it really isn’t as far as their goal, which is to win the Pac 12 South.”

At one time, when both programs were in the Mountain West Conference, coach Kyle Whittingham was 2-3 against BYU. Since beginning Pac 12 play in 2011, the Utes have not lost to BYU.

When Whittingham and former BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall were part of the Mountain West, each team went 3-3 against their rival. As part of the Pac 12, Utah is 4-0 against BYU.

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It’s rivalry week in the state of Utah. The big game is back, and Utah and BYU fans are in full swing, taking jabs at one another and making predictions for Saturday’s game.

“Utah obviously had to amp (up) their recruiting because of the Pac 12, and they have done that,” Chow said. “They’ve done a nice job with that and probably have the players that are necessary to beat a BYU.”

For his part, Mendenhall usually downplayed the significance of the rivalry, preferring to play it off as one game on the schedule rather than the highlight of it. New coach Kalani Sitake appears to be trying to find a balance between gearing up for the rivalry, but also keeping it in perspective as part of the schedule.

Sitake will make his debut in the rivalry as a head coach this week. The former BYU fullback coached in the rivalry for 10 years as an assistant at Utah.

While he said it was easier to play the game at the end of the season, which was mostly the case when the two teams were in the same conference, Sitake is preparing BYU to go all out this week.

“As a coach you’re trying to plan it like another game,” he said,” but you want to make sure you do everything you can to exhaust the opportunity to win this game. I’ve learned that from Kyle. You want to win and do your best, and you’ll have to deal with the rest afterward.”

One week after playing BYU at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the Cougars take on UCLA in Sitake’s first game in LaVell Edwards Stadium. Utah is expected to have a much easier game, traveling to San Jose State.

BYU’s offensive coordinator during Sitake’s career as a player, Chow appreciates finding the proper balance with the rivalry now that the game is played early in the season. As a coach, he knows the objective is to adequately prepare a team for every game.

Knowing Whittingham and his family for over 40 years, Chow believes both coaches will have their teams fired up for the game without having to say much.

“You have to acknowledge it’s a big game, now. You’ve got to be not very smart to say it’s not a big rivalry game, because it is. Over the years it’s been a tremendous game,” Chow said.

“Recognize it for what it is, and it is a big game. And understand what happens (is) you’re going to have to suit up for the next week.”

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