You could argue it was the best week in BYU history.
After accepting an invite to the Big 12 on Friday, the Cougars (2-0) followed it up Saturday by taking it to their in-state rival with a 26-17 victory over No. 21 Utah (1-1) at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
With 16 of the last 20 games being decided by one possession, BYU’s victory Saturday night was it’s largest margin of victory over Utah since 1996 (37-17 win). The win also snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Utes who looked to become the first team in the rivalry to win 10 straight games.
BYU QB Jaren Hall threw three touchdown passes and totaled 241 yards of offense to lead the Cougars to victory. Hall finished the night with 92 rushing yards and would have topped 100 if his 60-plus yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter didn’t get called back for stepping out of bounds.
BYU Football: Cougars Jump Into Top 25, Utah, USC, Texas Drop Out
Running back Tyler Allgeier had a team-high 102 rushing yards and got stronger as the game went on as he bulldozed over a plethora of Utah defenders in the second half. added 109 yards on 27 carries as the Cougars snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Utes.
BYU’s defense came to play as the Cougars forced two turnovers and completely changed their defensive philosophy as they pressured Utah QB Charlie Brewer all night long.
Chaz Ah You had an interception and Isaiah Herron added a fumble recovery in the first half as the Cougars didn’t allow the Utes to get comfortable at any point of the game.
Here’s how fans, the media, players and coaches reacted after the game:
✅ Get invite to the Big 12
✅ Snap 9-game Holy War losing streak to rival UtahWHAT A WEEK FOR @BYUfootball! pic.twitter.com/KQ4vOtRWG1
— ESPN (@espn) September 12, 2021
Congratulations to BYU for the victory! Utah is legit, with one of the better combos of OL and defensive front 7 in the nation, and a QB in Charlie Brewer who has played well in a lot of big games. This matchup reveals a lot about these Cougars. Rise and Shout!
— Trevor Matich (@TMatich) September 12, 2021
Scene in Provo is epic!! That @BYUfootball and @Utah_Football rivalry is one of the best in CFB.
Kalani Sitake is a really good coach and finally gets a win over his former boss
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) September 12, 2021
BYU ends a nine-game losing streak to Utah. Pretty good week for CougarKind. Kalani Sitake pretty damn happy to finally beat the Utes.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) September 12, 2021
I hope BYU QB Jaren Hall delivers this postgame speech after beating the rival Utes:
"I like Utah. In fact, I love them. I love everything about them. I love their program, their fans. I love everything. That said, it felt really good to send those guys home."#nomorecurses
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) September 12, 2021
FINAL
BYU 26 Utah 17
The Streak ends at 9#Utes— Bill Riley (@espn700bill) September 12, 2021
10 my …
— Lorenzo Fauatea 🇼🇸 (@ZFauatea) September 12, 2021
Covid saved you from this being win #2 if we're being real.
— Uzui Lapuaho (@ULapuaho) September 12, 2021
They so “poo poo” lol #StreakOver
— neil_pauu#8 (@pauuneil) September 12, 2021
#GOCOUGS pic.twitter.com/kx5qjII5JE
— Puka Nacua (@AsapPuka) September 12, 2021
Nacuas change the whole mindset of this rivalry. Don’t back down, talk some shit, zero fear and others will feed off your energy.
— Alex Haws Kuresa 🇼🇸 (@Its_Rufio7) September 12, 2021
HOW ‘BOUT THEM COUGS!!!?!🤩🤩
— Jacob Conover (@JacobConover17) September 12, 2021
And you too @KirkHerbstreit !
— Uriah Leiataua (@lopa54) September 12, 2021
So this just happened next to where my cousins are sitting at the #BYUvsUtah game. @RedditCFB pic.twitter.com/6NrJgdp1XJ
— Matt Harris (@RirieBulldogsAD) September 12, 2021
Had to have broken it. BYU made a FG to open the scoring after this happened.
— Matt Harris (@RirieBulldogsAD) September 12, 2021
It will be 1,800+ days since BYU last lost to Utah. Is that how the tweet goes? https://t.co/MuDRxW19jV
— Andrew Adams (@AndrewAdamsKSL) September 12, 2021
🙌 @BYUfootball gets the W
They take down No. 21 Utah and earn their first Holy war win since 2009 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/94ry9w7Nle
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 12, 2021
We’ve been waiting 12 years to post this 👊🏼#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/BbgMSdIkKN
— BYU Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) September 12, 2021
What a fun game. Congratulations to the Cougar faithful—especially Coach Sitake. pic.twitter.com/k3VeLxA49e
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) September 12, 2021
— The ROC (@byuROC) September 12, 2021
https://twitter.com/BYUSportsNation/status/1436930345727774722/photo/1
Utah has never beaten BYU since they accepted an invite to the P5.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 12, 2021
it. is. about. time. CHILLS! #CougarNation
— Cody Hoffman™ (@Cody_Hoffman2) September 12, 2021
This was tremendous. pic.twitter.com/cQ0BCv5c0X
— Max Olson (@max_olson) September 12, 2021
BYU ends the streak! Kalani Sitake is loving every second of it. You love to see it. #BYUvsUtah #BYU #Utes #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/9l9Mt2YA7v
— Justin Giles (@JustinGiles_) September 12, 2021
Last time this happened, Whitt's wife got into it with a BYU fan who was taking pictures of the sobbing Utes. Hope Utah made it off the field OK.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 12, 2021
1. BYU officially a Power 5
2. BYU beats Utah
3. BYU has outright lead in PAC 12 standings, with path to PAC 12 ChampionshipThe Very Vocal Anti-BYU, Utah fans are experiencing 10 years of pain in 1 weekend.
— Dylan Collie (@23Collie) September 12, 2021
11-1 in 2020
#2 overall NFL pick
BIG12 invite
Big 2020 recruiting class
Built Bar deal for Walk Ons
Kalani Sitake extension
And now..
Finally..
BYU fans get to add a win over their rival.— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) September 12, 2021
This has to be the greatest week ever for most BYU fans in their lifetime.
Well deserved victory and invitation.
— Tony Parks (@tonyparks801) September 12, 2021
BALL GAME🔵⚪️
— Kaimana Nacua (@KaiNacua) September 12, 2021
“Hall” of fame. Good to see Max out there tonight. https://t.co/mrQFIDTWm1
— Alema Harrington (@AlemaHarrington) September 12, 2021
nothing flukey about this one. BYU outplayed Utah tonight.
— Brandon Gurney (@BrandonCGurney) September 12, 2021
Not washing this shirt. Jaren Hall broke the Max Hall curse.
— Paul Sabin (@SabinAnalytics) September 12, 2021
Possibly, although don't judge until you see my three-cone drill… He's definitely the best qb at BYU since Zach Wilson.
— Trevor Matich (@TMatich) September 12, 2021
LET’S GO!!!
— tanner mangum (@tannermangum) September 12, 2021
So impressed with how BYU played this game. Defense forced turnovers, offense controlled the line of scrimmage, Jaren played amazing.
I was worried about the defense but they showed up!! Loved how they mixed up their schemes and brought the pressure.
— tanner mangum (@tannermangum) September 12, 2021
Field storming in Provo! pic.twitter.com/LCUARzac6u
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 12, 2021
Jaren freaking Hall looked to score on a 66 yard rush, but officials on the field said he stepped out of bounds at the 48 yard line — making it an 18 yard rush instead.
— Salt Lake Tribune BYU Sports (@sltribbyu) September 12, 2021
Jaren Hall for Heisman?
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 12, 2021
No review on the Jaren Hall TD run up the sideline? pic.twitter.com/TFxOBAC5nj
— Benjamin Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) September 12, 2021
206 rush yards vs Utah. That doesn't happen much from BYU.
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) September 12, 2021
Tyler Allgeier ladies and gents.. pic.twitter.com/yMr2QpK4l5
— Benjamin Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) September 12, 2021
Maybe the Utes should have considered joining the Big 12
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 12, 2021
Friday: BYU accepts invitation to join the Big 12.
Saturday: Beats Utah.
Sunday: Zach Wilson makes NFL debut. Not a bad weekend.— Tyson Whiting (@TysonOnSports) September 12, 2021
BYU is going to snap a 9-game losing streak to Utah.
Pretty good week for the Cougars.
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) September 12, 2021
BYU hasn’t won by more than one score vs Utah since 1996 (37-17)
— CougarStats (@CougarStats) September 12, 2021
Seen this story too many times. Time for a new ending. Go Cougs. Score again and put this away.
— Michael Christensen (@elkocougar) September 12, 2021
This stadium feels like home to me. Friends everywhere.
— 🌶️Kyle 🌶️🌵🆕🇲🇽 (@Y_Soup) September 12, 2021
The Nacua brothers are legends! Haha give me that energy all day long #BYUvsUtah
— Chris Collinsworth (@cmcollin41) September 12, 2021
LIVE look at Utah's offense so far… #HolyWar #BYUvsUtah https://t.co/WefIdJVR1x
— Justin Giles (@JustinGiles_) September 12, 2021
The future members of the Big 12 after OU/UT departure went 10-1 today.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 12, 2021
They've waited 12 years for this 🙌 @BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/J3PyBc22Gd
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 12, 2021
Lol today’s the annual reminder of why I don’t own anything red.
It’s up tonight!! #gocougs
— Anson Winder (@AnsonWinder20) September 12, 2021
You only dream to play in this game… #HolyWar
— Lorenzo Fauatea 🇼🇸 (@ZFauatea) September 11, 2021
The rains came down and the floods came up…we will find out what kind of foundation BYU’s lead is build on. A rock or sand.
— The Stake Clerk Emeritus (@TheStakeClerk) September 12, 2021
That water you're seeing in Provo is nine years' worth of Cougar Tears flooding down from the heavens …. https://t.co/8WXy1oJObR
— Sean Walker (@BySeanWalker) September 12, 2021
The best Saturday night football game!!!! Go Cougars….. Those are my boys!!!!! Congrats BYU… do a dance for me pic.twitter.com/mWaLZ3b4Wt
— ByuMomma (@uclagrad90) September 12, 2021
From 1989-1992, I played in the "Holy War." We were @BYUfootball was 4-0 vs. Utah.
BYU will win tonight.
1. The defense will create 3 turnovers. 2. Chaz Ah You will have a monster game.
3. Jaren Hall & Psycho T will have 220 rushing.
4. BYU's punter will a big game. pic.twitter.com/6Z0ns31ae0— Dr. Derwin L. Gray (@DerwinLGray) September 11, 2021
The energy at LES is unmatched. Proud of our team! Thanks to the players, coaches, and fans for bringing the juice tonight! #BestSelfMode
— Preston Hadley (@CoachPHadley) September 12, 2021
STAND UP COUGAR NATION!!!!!!!! Let’s goooooooooo!!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
— Fesi Sitake (@fsitake) September 12, 2021
Hats off to our opponent tonight!! That was a great battle! Y-Gang all day baby!!!!! 💙🤙🏾💙🤙🏾 #GoCougs #HolyWar
— Harvey Unga (@unga45) September 12, 2021
🏈👊🏽💙 pic.twitter.com/KWcbgOsLd5
— Nick Robinson (@CoachNick_BYU) September 12, 2021
All is well. All is well. https://t.co/LuqYllLIky
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) September 12, 2021
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BYU Football: Cougars Jump Into Top 25, Utah, USC, Texas Drop Out
