RIVALRY WEEK: 12 Greatest BYU-Utah games

PROVO -- Utah vs. BYU. Few rivalries in collegiate athletics match the passion and intensity of the in-state rivalry between the two schools.

Through the years, the enmity between them has become so deep that fans of either side are rarely willing to concede even the slightest point, as doing so would be a detriment to their own cause. To the fans and players involved, the debate has evolved into a zero-sum game: any sort of defeat sustained by one school is claimed to be a victory for the other.

As this year's game approaches, KSL takes a look back at some of the greatest games in rivalry history. Feel like we missed a game? Tell us in the comment board.

1978 Randy Gomez leads the Utes to an upset of BYU in the final minutes. Between 1972 and 1988 it was their only win over the Cougars.

1981 This was the first BYU-Utah game that would decide a conference championship. Jim McMahon threw for 565 yards and 4 touchdowns in a record setting performance.

1993 Chris Yergensen's 55 yard field goal wins it for the Utes 34-31. It was the Utes' first win in Provo in twenty-two seasons. What are the chances of another rivalry game being decided by a 55 yard field goal?

1994 This was the first meeting for the Utes and Cougars as Top 25 ranked teams. The Utes won by the same score as the year prior, 34-31.

1998 Utah kicker Ryan Kaneshiro clanks the upright and BYU survives a thriller. People still talk about this every time rivalry week comes along.

2000 Entering the 2000 season, legendary head coach LaVell Edwards announced that he was retiring. His final game as Cougars head coach came against the Utes where BYU won with an exciting, almost impossible last-minute drive that ended on a touchdown with little time remaining on the clock.

2001 Luke Staley took a pitch and raced down the sideline for a touchdown with 1:16 left to give BYU the win. The win gave the Cougars consecutive wins against the Utes for the first time in nearly ten years.

2004 The Utes came into the game undefeated, hoping to become the first non-BCS team to earn a BCS bowl invite. Led by the future NFL #1 draft pick Alex Smith, the Utes defeated the Cougars 52-21. It was the last rivalry game for Utah coach Urban Meyer as well as BYU coach Gary Crowton.

2005 The Bronco Mendenhall and Kyle Whittingham eras began for both schools. Utah entered the game without their starting quarterback or leading wide receiver. Backup Brett Ratliff led the Utes to a 24-3 first half lead. BYU stormed back, tying the game at 34. In overtime, Ratliff connected with Travis LaTendresse from 25 yards out to put the Utes up 7. The game ended when John Beck's desperation fourth down pass fell incomplete. This has been the only overtime game played in the series.

2006 With just over a minute remaining, BYU quarterback John Beck led the Cougars down the field. On the last play of the game, Beck scrambled around before finding a wide open Jonny Harline for the game winning touchdown with no time left on the clock.

2007 Trailing 10-9 late in the 4th quarter, BYU quarterback Max Hall connected with Austin Collie for a 49 yard gain on 4th and 18. Harvey Unga scored four plays later to put the Cougars on top. BYU held on to secure an outright MWC conference championship.

2008 Both teams entered highly ranked with Utah (11-0) at 7/8 and BYU (10-1) 14/16. The Utes were playing for a second BCS berth in five seasons. After Utah jumped out to a first half lead, BYU came storming back to draw it to 27-24 in the 3rd quarter. The Ute defense picked off Max Hall five times and forced a fumble and the Utes went on to win 48-24.