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SALT LAKE CITY — BYU and the University of Utah won’t play each other in football this year, but their rivalry is getting national attention anyway.
NFL.com ranks the rivalry between the two schools 12th in the nation this year.
The website writes that this rivalry is downgraded a few spots from years past because the Utes and Cougars won’t play each other in 2014 or 2015. However, the heated and strong history of the rivalry still warrants attention.
The posting says religious overtones give the series its “Holy War” name and lead to much of the animosity.
Former Ute Alex Smith talked about the rivalry this spring.
"Obviously things got more complicated when we joined the Pac-12 and they didn't. That's what makes college athletics so special are those rivalry games,” he said. “I mean, regardless of the record, that game to me was always special, especially in this state.”
The BYU-Utah rivalry ranks ahead of UCLA-USC and just behind Oregon-Oregon State. Alabama-Auburn was the top rivalry.
