BYU game day preview + prediction: Heavyweight fight awaits against No. 3 Utah
Nov 6, 2026, 8:34 PM
SALT LAKE CITY — BYU vs Utah doesn’t need much fanfare. It’s always a big game.
But Saturday morning’s matchup between the two in-state programs separated by 45 miles is as big as they come. It’s the first-ever top-10 matchup between the programs.
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Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff implications are on the line in this game.
BYU enters the game at 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Big 12 play. Utah is a perfect 8-0 overall and 5-0 in Big 12 play.
BYU has a perfect 4-0 record against the Utes in games played in Salt Lake when ranked in the top-10 of the polls (1984, 1990, 1996, and 2024). We’ll see if BYU can pull off an upset in this game.
BYU is 7-3 since 2024, when they were projected as an underdog. The three losses were away from Provo against CFP teams (Arizona State, Texas Tech).
Utah leads the all-time series over BYU, 59-34-4, dating back to 1922.
No. 9 BYU vs. No. 3 Utah
Location: Rice-Eccles Stadium
Kickoff: 10 a.m. (MST)
TV: ABC
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM)
Three game day thoughts
1. BYU will play a lot better than they have shown the past two weeks
BYU players were asked in the postgame press conference after the win over Arizona State why they seem to play to the level of their opponents.
It was a fair question because the BYU team that took down Notre Dame hasn’t shown up the past two weeks against inferior opponents.
This is another big test and an excellent opponent. Look for BYU to perform at a much higher level than they have in the previous two weeks, including the loss at UCF, and win over Arizona State.
2. Bear Bachmeier has to be the best player on the field
BYU sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier became a hero in the eyes of Cougar fans with his performance last year against Utah. He had an impressive hurdle over Utah’s Jackson Bennee on a run, then he was set loose on a 22-yard touchdown run to put BYU up by 10.
3. Finish tackles
BYU is in the bottom five nationally in tackling grades this season, according to Pro Football Focus. The Cougars have struggled with missed tackles in recent weeks, highlighted by the 18 missed tackles in the road loss at UCF two weeks ago.
BYU’s defensive front has generated pressure, but they have let guys slip out of reach and gain extra yards. Utah has a trio of ball carriers who could cause problems if BYU can’t tackle: Wayshawn Parker and Daniel Bray at running back, and then Devon Dampier at QB.
Dampier averaged 10 yards per carry on 15 carries in Utah’s last home game against Houston two weeks ago.
BYU’s defense, headlined by the linebackers, has to finish when it gets the chance to wrap up and make a play.
Two BYU vs Utah questions
1. If LJ Martin plays, how effective will he be?
Following the Friday night update, BYU star running back LJ Martin remains “Questionable” entering this rivalry game.
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Martin has been sidelined since the first quarter of BYU’s win at TCU on October 3, when he suffered an ankle injury.
If Martin plays, his biggest strength might be his presence on the field. A less-than-100% Martin is still someone you have to account for at all times; that may open things up for Bear Bachmeier on the ground. Bear has averaged 2.2 yards per carry the past three weeks.
But if Martin looks anywhere close to the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year performer that he is, that could change the game completely for BYU.
Last year in the rivalry game, Martin had 26 carries for 122 yards.
2. Will BYU be able to produce some explosive plays through the air?
BYU ranks 12th in the Big 12 (25 total) in explosive pass plays (20+ yards) this season.
That’s a little bit by design, as the Cougars pick their spots and are selective when they take their shots down the field with wide receivers Legend Glasker or Kyler Kasper.
But will they be able to pull off a few more in this game? Utah ranks 10th in the conference in passing yards allowed (267.8).
Bear Bachmeier is 8-of-23 on passes that sail more than 20 yards this season with three touchdowns and one interception.
Bonus question: Will BYU be able to score in the first quarter?
Utah is the only team in the country that hasn’t allowed a touchdown in the first quarter of its games this season.
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Despite underwhelming performances in the past two weeks, BYU’s offense has scored on the first drive in the past two games.
The Cougars have scored on their first drive in the past four games.
One score prediction for BYU vs Utah
Saturday morning will be a heavyweight fight featuring two of the best teams in college football. Regardless of the outcome, they both deserve to be in the College Football Playoff.
I’ll call for BYU’s defense to have a strong performance, including a few takeaways that set up the BYU offense with short fields.
BYU avoids the special teams miscues and escapes Rice-Eccles Stadium with its fourth consecutive win in the rivalry. The first time that’s happened since 1992.
Score prediction: BYU 23, Utah 20
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
