FOX Big Noon Kickoff Crew Make Final BYU/Utah Picks Before Holy War

PROVO, Utah – “Dave knows ball” was the chant at Big Noon Kickoff this morning, but BYU faithful couldn’t help but feel betrayed when Dave Portnoy picked the Utes to win the Holy War.

The show culminated with four of the six hosts picking Utah, followed by a Cosmo swan dive into a shallow pool of water, a death-defying stunt, even by Cosmo’s standards.

No. 15 BYU hosts No. 23 Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, October 18. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. MT on FOX.

RELATED: Former BYU, Utah Players Give Thoughts On Rivalry Week Matchup

Big Noon Kickoff Picks for BYU-Utah

Urban: Utah
Brady Quinn: Utah
Matt Leinart: BYU
Bear: Utah
Dave Portnoy: Utah pic.twitter.com/FBF69uL0aR

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 18, 2025

Chris Fallica opened the picks by tabbing Utah. Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, knows how to get a reaction, replacing the BYU cap on his head with a bright red Utah hat while picking Kyle Whittingham’s team to prevail.

"I've had a great time in Provo… but Utah is going to win this game." @stoolpresidente really picked Utah in front of BYU fans 🤣😅 pic.twitter.com/FZbDAS8TGV

— Big Noon Kickoff (@BNKonFOX) October 18, 2025

Former Utah head coach Urban Meyer predicted a 32-24 win for Utah. Former USC QB Matt Leinart followed with a 24-21 nod to BYU, donning the Cougar hat Portnoy had been wearing all show. Brady Quinn excited Utah fans when he predicted a 20-13 Utah victory.

 

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Before joining Cosmo in the pool, from ground level, former Alabama RB Mark Ingram picked BYU.

This is the first meeting between these programs as ranked teams since a 26-23 BYU win in 2009. The Cougars entered the matchup ranked No. 18 in the country, finishing the year at No. 12. Utah was No. 22 at the time of the game and rose to No. 18 in the final AP Top 25.

BYU-Utah rivalry week reading

• Here’s What Dave Portnoy Had To Say About BYU/Provo

• Former Cougar QB Jaren Hall: Utah-BYU Isn’t “Just Another Game”

• Utah’s Initial Availability Report For The BYU Rivalry Game

• BYU Football Availability Report Entering Rivalry Game Against Utah

• Ranking Utah Football’s Five Biggest Wins In Holy War Rivalry

• Ranking BYU Football’s Five Biggest Wins In Holy War Rivalry

• Former BYU, Utah Players Give Thoughts On Rivalry Week Matchup

• Kalani Sitake, Kyle Whittingham Named To National Coach Of The Year Watch List

• Every Player To Switch Sides In The Utah/BYU Football Rivalry

• Five Things We Learned From Kalani Sitake’s BYU/Utah Presser

• Takeaways From Kyle Whittingham’s Rivalry Week Press Conference

How to Watch:

Television

FOX

How can I listen to BYU football?

Radio

KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM & 1160 AM)

KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM) will host College Football Saturday every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.

Online (listen)

sports.ksl.com

KSLNewsRadio.com

Mobile (listen)

KSL Sports app

KSL NewsRadio app

Where can I find the BYU football postgame show?

BYU Cougars vs. Utah Utes recap on KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM), sports.ksl.com, and the KSL Sports app.

Follow Holy War coverage with KSL Sports

Find BYU’s entire 2025 football schedule here.

Find Utah’s entire 2025 football schedule here.

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