BYU versus Utah - 2022 College Football

    The history between them goes back pretty far, to the 1920s when the Provo college provided a rival 49 miles to the south. And in the last few decades the animosity has grown, then waned, but has remained real. The smack talk between the schools has been constant. Sometimes I look at the commentary online among the fans and haters. It seems there is more hater-aid than collegiate comradery, at least online.

    The Cougars got the monkey off their back last year, 2021, and finally downed the in-state rival, the dreaded Utes. The Utah win streak had become 9 in a row. Despite some really close finishes, Utah stayed on top for most of the last decade plus.

    And the talk and smack continued. Continues. Never ends. Certain web denizens were out with constant hooks, barbs, diatribes, insults, and plain old mean accusations. BYU fans could be bad in their rhetoric and hyperbole, but I have not seen worse vitriol in print than some of the Utah backers. Then again, color me biased, I am a BYU alum.

    Both sides have reasons to pridefully swagger and preen. The Utes have had some really successful seasons in the 21st century, which I am in favor of, but much of them have included wins over their instate rival, which is painful. 2010 proved a fateful year, when the state school in red was invited to the historic Power 5 conference PAC-10 turned PAC-12, and Brigham Young in blue, was not invited, and decided to go independent, like Notre Dame. The results have been mixed since then, but against the Utes, decidedly one sided in favor of the northern neighbors. 

    Recruiting has favored the PAC-12 team, Utah, for sure. They also got their druthers in head coach selection, former BYU player Kyle Whittingham when replacing the legendary Cougar coach Lavell Edward, Utah won. BYU has had three replacements to the legend, and now recently Kilane Sitake looks to be a good fit to live up to that billing. Despite a weaker finish to an overall strong season in 2021, and a stellar pandemic-shortened 2020, with a top quarterback being drafted very high by the pros, the question remains how good can BYU be in 2022?

    Four different magazines have their predictions. My favorite, which I have not bothered to order online, Phil Steele, has Utah predicted this fall for number 6 over all BYU 26. Luckily for BYU, if this is the case, they do not face each other, which gives more time for the Cougars to cherish last season's win. Perhaps a good reprieve, if Mr. Steele is right about the disparity.

    Some of us think that the Cougars will be better than that. Me, of course, but I am not the only one. USA Today has the Brigham Young Cougars ranked as high as 10th (Utah 6th) in pre-season predictions. The schedule is certainly formidable for the Cougars in their last year of independence, so if BYU can pull off the wins as they did last year, despite mid-season setbacks against Boise State and Baylor in 2021, they may have another special season. Should be fun. Oregon, Arkansas, Notre Dame in Las Vegas. And others, including a grudge match with the highly ranked Baylor Bears. And the Broncos of Idado, another payback game, among others. Like Stanford at the end, which I want to see pounded since a debacle that I witnessed in Palo Alto back in 2004. Two coaches ago, the one short-lived and fired, Gary Crowton. Bronco Mendenhall brought a modicum of success back to Provo, and now Kilani may bring them to new heights.

    I am hopeful!

    2022 will determine a lot for the program, vis-a-vis how it compares to Utah in the overall standings and rankings, and how each deals with the competition, with about two shared opponents. Or maybe one. Stanford and ... I think that is it.

    Play the games. Utah has a more favorable schedule to win: the PAC-12 is not that hard, and Florida is their first game, and San Diego St. may be somewhat competitive.

    Although, USC may be revamped, Oregon is critically ranked, and Washington can always drub you. The PAC-12 can definitely pile up. Injuries will be critical for both teams, as always, but BYU may be deeper this year than previous years.

 The other two magazines, of which I bought this summer, the predictions are:

Athlon Sports: BYU 27, Utah 8

Lindy's Sports: BYU 19, Utah 7

Phil Steele: BYU 26, Utah 6

USA Today: BYU 10, Utah 7

Who else? 

ESPN: BYU (not top 25), Utah 13

CBSSports: BYU 26, Utah 4

FoxSports: BYU 16, Utah 11

NCAA: BYU 22, Utah 6

CFN: 33, Utah 6

    The pre-season goes out the window when the first game is afoot. Wins and losses, injuries and unpredictable events occur. 

    I think CFN has the lowest expectations for the Y, while Utah is consistently predicted to be top ten. Even # 4 in the case of CBS. 

        Should be an interesting season.

    Three more weeks till the games begin. Enjoy.