they play the games. BYU should have won, but there was crazy crap going on that week and I think the coach played his retirement announcement perfectly. The team was fractured and would probably have lost, but his announcement brought the team back together and they offensively played out of their minds. They still barely beat BYU, so It is what it is.
Had there been no protests and resignations, and no retirement announcement, BYU more than likely wins that game going away.