Utah limped into the rivalry game at LES at 5-5 after losing the week before to New Mexico. Their hopes rested on the shoulders of an unknown, unproven Brett Ratliff. Ute fans were down and it looked as if they’d miss bowl eligibility.

BYU had great momentum coming into the game on a 3 game winning streak beating Air Force, UNLV, and Wyoming behind junior QB John Beck. During that streak, BYU averaged 51 ppg and the team started to really gel.

The media and fans all expected BYU to blow the Utes out … Fast forward to the rivalry game.

Utah came in pissing fire and raced out to a 24-3 halftime lead. Behind Ratliffs 4 passing TDs and 122 yds rushing. Quinton Ganther also had 131 yards rushing and had the help of Eric Wesley who played both sides.

Like every rivalry game would be under Mendenhall, the team walked in confident and couldn’t recover from the initial punch to the face they’d take. Note the Cougs did rally back to force OT but ended up losing 34-41.



This 2024 BYU team is much more proven and I feel they’ll be more prepared going into RES, but know Whittingham will not roll over and will get his team to land the first blow to the face. Hopefully, Sitake and crew will have the team prepared schematically and mentally and find a way to win@ RES for the first time since 2006 … where they have lost 5 straight in SLC.