I don't think Utah and BYU can go undefeated, but a couple of 1-loss teams ought to be ranked going into Nov. 22nd. Should be a good one.

Interesting note: BYU is five plays away from 0-10 against Utah over the last ten years.

1998 - botched last second chip-shot FG by Utah - BYU wins by 26-24

2000 - Brandon Doman converts 4 and 17 in last minute with BYU trailing by one - Cougars score TD 2 plays later; TD and 2 pt. conversion 34-27

2001 - Utah fails to convert third and short at mid-field to run out clock - Staley run ensues 24-21

2006 - Harline TD last play 33-31

2007 - 4 and 18 conversion, TD and 2-pt. conversion give BYU 17-10 win

So, 5-5 over the last ten years making for a great rivalry.

I think its great that there are two MWC teams in the top 25 mix.

how you fail to mention 2005 in there as well, maybe thats because you were the ones who eked out the win...harline misses that pass over his head on 3rd down with a minute left on the yewt 40 yard line which ensured over time. I was on a mish in 2003 but im sure a 3-0 game could have been changed by one play as well although i wasn't there. The rivalry has a way of neutralizing talent which makes for really close games...this year should be no different imo

Isn't it great to have both teams in the polls?! I am loving the fact that the two have taken attention away from some of the traditional powers.

Can we get TCU ranked? They have Texas coming up.

I love college football.

WTG Utah! They played great on Saturday and I was really happy for them. Hopefully they'll keep it up so we can have a great matchup in November!

At least Utah has justification to pull out the "injury card" again this year if they loose a game or two.

It is nice that the weak sister to north can get into the top 25 and join the championship team in Provo. By the way, it will be short lived since UNLV and that monster running back Summers is coming to SLC. Not to mention the UNLV vaunted defense that shutout the yewties last year. By the way, the MTN is showing the yewtie debacle and total embarrassment on tv, Friday Nite at 8 pm. Since that is "date nite", most of the yewties will now have something to do.

It's good to have Utah back in the Top 25 again. This could be a history making year for the MWC and for the Utah/BYU rivalry. Both teams are capable of beating everyone on their schedule. Two undefeated/Top 10 teams meeting with a MWC championship and BCS bid on the line would be sweet.

Whittingham hit it on the head in my opinion. Both BYU and Utah being in the top 25 is good for the MWC and football in the State of Utah. I still feel that both have a chance to be undefeated when they meet. Utah has one more tough non-conference game, and BYU has two. Hopefully at least two other MWC teams do well with their non-conference games.

Good job Utes and Cougars. Keep you heads on straight and stay focused.

I'm a die-hard Cougar fan, but Utah is no weak sister. I've known the Whittinghams for years and their isn't a weak-sister amonst them and they helped propel BYU into the spot lite. Stop eating so many twinkies and open your eyes. Utah is a fine team and credit to the state. This Conference needs all the great teams we can get and fewer cheap-shot artists.
Sorry about the twinkies comment, they really are an excellent health food.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

I am pretty sure, though I don't have the time to research it, that over the past 10 games EVERY game between BYU and Utah, with the exception of one, has been close - decided in the last few minutes or so of the game. If that is the case, BYU is 4 plays away from being 9-1 against the Utes.

Other than being a great rivalry, what it really shows is that Utah has finally reached a level where they can compete with BYU, after a 20 year or so hiatus.

It also shows the character of each team by their ability to win the big game - when the game is on the line.

Over the past 10 to 15 years I don't think there has been a better rivalry anywhere.

Five of the greatest BYU - Utah games ever. Thanks for the memories!

in the fiesta bowl or some other bs bowl. That would be something fun with the utes against urban meyer. Get er done boys

I expect it from some of the childish Utah fans, that are more BYU haters, than they are real Utah fans, but the childish name calling by BYU fans is getting old. Show a little class. You'll never hear Bronco talking anything but respect for his opponents. You'll never hear him refer to the Utes as "yewts" or the "team up north" or any other derogatory term.

For all of the immature BYU fans, show a little class and stop with the name calling.

Great win Utah over one of the most storied teams in one of the most storied venues in college football. Even though Michigan may be down a little, and Utah nearly threw the game away in the second half, it's still an important win for Utah and for the MWC.

Welcome to the Top 25. The Utes deserve to be here. Let's hope both BYU and Utah can stay there the rest of the season.

Now it's time for BYU to step it up and do their part by beating Washington in Seattle.

Remember when a good program was in the top twenty?

Let's move it to the top 100 and get three Utah teams ranked.

I always hear how having two good football programs will be healthy, or good for the state. But my question is how? How could the success of a college football program be good for the state, or any state? Will the economy fix itself because football teams are winning? Will having Utah and BYU in the top 25 repair our public school system? I know I'm be a little facetious but I guess I don't get how it is good for the state. Would someone care to enlighten me?

I have mainly heard positive comments from Cougar fans about the Utes game and ranking. Any Cougar fan who does not want the Utes to go into November 22nd with as much success as possible simply is not a real (or intelligent) Cougar fan. Keep it up Utes!! I'm just glad the rivalry game in the last regular season game so there is the chance for both teams to go in there undefeated.

I was there in 2003, the Y was never "one play away." Sorry. It was smashmouth football in miserable conditions, but the game was decided prior to the fourth quarter.

you'd need to go higher than the top 100 to get the aggies ranked

BYU and Utah play 12 home games. If you don't count the games against in state teams that leaves around 10 games a year against teams from out of state. The out of state teams have fans that travel with the team. The better BYU and Utah are, the more likely those fans are willing to travel to see their team play against them. So, on average, around 5,000 fans will travel to the state of Utah and spend there money in our hotels, restuarants, and other places. That helps the economy.

As for the public school system, I don't think their's a problem in Utah. My wife and I went to public schools and we turned out well. Both our kids go to public schools and they're doing well. They real problem is the amount of parents who take no interest in their kids schooling and don't instill a desire to learn.

That's 5,000 fans for every game. If they play 10 games against out of state teams, that's 50,000 people traveling to Utah every year.

Way to go Utah....glad you hung on to that lead for the win!

If it comes, turn down the BCS bowl bid cuz you don't need that rigged system to be successful. Championships should be won by players on the field. If the BCS worked, college BBall would have one too!

that very well maybe the case, but any follower of college football knows that a 3-0 game can change in an instant...i know that byu's offense was terrible and everything but one missed assignment or tackle and a quick 6 on the board...although you think it was impossible even the worst teams can bust one out every once in a while

But some teams bring a lot more fans. That is why it is important, beyond football, to bring in big name schools, regardless of their team quality on any given day. When oregon and Cal played here in 2003, they brought a ton of fans. Texas A&M have an amazing fan base that travels as well as any fans in the country. I am sure that Notre Dame and USC had more than 5,000 fans in Provo a few years ago. Even Boise St. travels incredibly well for being a small school. Regardless of the teams that travel, home games generate a ton of money that might not have otherwise been spent in SLC or Provo, which is good for those cities. Throw in the ridership of trax and UTA buses and it is easy to see that successfull college football programs generate a ton of money for the local economy. Why do you think even the worst bowl games can get sponsors to fork out a million bucks for naming rights.

Yes, there are many contests decided by one play.

So what!

National Championships, Super Bowls, Olympic Gold Medals, are often decided by the slimmest of margins. The ONLY thing that really matters, however, is the final outcome. Did you win or did you lose? ALMOST winning, means you LOST. PERIOD.

It doesn't matter if it was by one point as time expired or by 50 points.

Close only counts in horseshoes and handgrenades.

College football does not need an economic justification. The fact that a large number of people in Utah love and follow the game is more than enough justification. How significant are the arts - painting, sculpture, music, beauty of all kinds? Where is the money in that? How are these things good for Utah? What about courtesy and kindness or blue sky and flowers? These things are perhaps of very marginal value to the tourist industry but that's not what brings people to Utah so who cares?

What is valuable to the state is what adds to the well being of the people of the state. Beauty, accomplishment, art, sports don't necessarily put any money in anyones pocket. But, they make life fun and worth living and give those of us who love those things something too look forward to.

Fall colors, cool weather, and two teams in the top 25! It doesn't get any better than that.

I hope ESPN is correct, but I'm not booking a flight to Pheniox just yet. Still a long way to go and the UTES have several mistakes to iron out before they are 'BCS' ready. That MI game was great, but it should have been a blow out, but the UTES showed a lack of disicpline is several key areas. Now, they showed just how good they could be as well, so I am not saying we can't get there, it is just way to soon to talking BCS just. For now, we need to put some payback on UNLV. That's it. Also, I am sure Wyoming hasn't forgotton last year, so when they come up, our boys better be ready for a huge fight.

Good for BYU and Utah.

How about this: Texas A and M is playing at New Mexico this week. A & M fans are worried about the game, and are talking about how New Mexico has been to four straight bowl games. They are taking the Lobos very seriously.

Of course they should, as they got beat at home last Saturday by Arkansas State.

This could be the year that MWC gets the national respect it has been seeking for its football programs.

Having teams in the top 25 focuses attention on the state. It also helps in recruiting which will help to keep those teams in the top 25 and keep the attention on the state. It also helps when people think about moving to the state. Sports is important in many peoples minds when you think of living somewhere. It helps business to move to the state if they perceive that the quality of live is good and having top programs in the state helps with that.

Is there anybody out there, (like me), that would love to see BYU's non conference losing streak continue? I don't think my heart could take Utah/Byu being undefeated going into the rivalry game. I respect the players and coaches of the Y, I just have a hard time rooting for the enemy. Utah could climb a lot higher in the polls if BYU were out of the way.

I am a BYU fan and I think this is a great thing for the conference and the teams to be ranked in the Top 25. I would love for BYU and Utah to go undefeated, however at some point they play each other. Its great recognition for the hard work and effort both players and coaches have put in to their football programs. Also, it shows that both teams are good enough to compete with any other team in the nation. Both teams are looking really good this year and it will be and interesting game in november when these two teams play each other. I hope both teams have a great season.

Your comment makes no sense. "Pull the injury card"?!!!! Wow. Last year's injuries were serious concerns, taking some of our best players out for the entire season. We're not "pulling any cards" here. You die hard BYU fans are always so quick to start spouting off about things you know nothing about. You just worry about your own team and their health, and keep your un-educated remarks about the U of U to yourself.

At this point rankings mean nothing if both teams don't get ready to play.
For BYU, they need to break the bad habit of losing early non-conference road games to teams they are superior to. Washington just got shelled by an Oregon team ranked lower than BYU. BYU should do the same.
For Utah, they need to stay motivated for the little games. They have won more games against BCS shools this decade but usually follow it with a loss to a lousy team that gets overlooked. Overlooking an opponent has been very costly for Utah the last few years. The losses have nothing to do with injuries, penalties or anything else.

And thanks to the blogger who wrote about one play changing the outcome for the other team to win. It didn't happen. Move on! I have been to the last 3 BYU-Utah games and have seen both ends of the joy/pain that comes from those games. There is nothing better than beating your nemesis and we have one of the best rivalries in all of college football. The ups and downs are what make it so much more fun. Dominance gets boring!

GO Utes! Let's get UNLV.

Utah had legitimate, serious injury problems last season. BYU will be in just as much trouble this season if Max goes down.

On the other hand, lack of serious injuries is what allowed the 2004 Utah team to excell. All 22 starters who started the season finished the season as starters.

Playing with injuries all depends on how serious the injury is and the individual athlete's toughness and threshold of pain.

Injuries are the biggest "luck" factor in football.

Injuries still don't explain what happened to Utah from UCLA ---> UNLV in one week.

What a great weekend. I watched the first half of the Utah game and the second half of the BYU game. From what I saw, it looks like Utah played better than BYU coming out of the gate.

I'm no expert; but it looks like November is going to be a great game if both teams bring their A game.

Two teams in the top 25 ... keep it up guys!

re: Injuries.

I agree with the post. I can't explain UNLV last year (other than the fact that UCLA saw the emergence of a host of freshmen, who appear to have overlooked UNLV--a mistake that didn't happen again last year). I know a lot of UNLV fans who expect the same result this week. I hope they are disappointed. I think the Utes remember the 2007 game in Sam Boyd Stadium and are not going let it be a repeat. I think they also remember the disaster against the Beavers in Corvallis and are looking for revenge in that game as well.

Injuries | 11:53 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
"Utah had legitimate, serious injury problems last season. BYU will be in just as much trouble this season if Max goes down."

BYU has had legitimate, serious injury problems already, not to mention the academic absense of Manase Tonga. It was obvious that Austin Collie was not playing at full speed last weekend, and the running game was less effective without Tonga or Vakapuna (held out of the game by Mendenhall). But you're right, if Hall gets hurt bad, BYU is in big trouble. But the kid is tough -- he played through the last few games of the season with the same shoulder injury that benched Utah's Johnson.

Legitimate or not, the injuries were not the reasons for the losses that Utah suffered last year. Even with the injuries, they still have better talent than most of the teams they lost to. The reason for the losses last year falls on the coaching staff not preparing the team to play the little guys. They also used the injury excuse and had the team buying into it as well. It is garbage. The fact is that Utah prepared for UCLA and didn't prepare for UNLV. I am big Ute fan and a season ticket holder. I was there for the good and bad games while the injured players were on the sidelines. That hurts the team, most definitely, but was not the reason for the losses.

Comparing the Hall and Johnson injuries doesn't really make sense. Johnson had his injury in the first week. There is no way that BYU continues to play Hall if he gets hurt in week 1. And Johnson would have continued to play as well if a.) he was injured late in the year like Hall b.) The Utes were in contention for a title and c.)there was no legitimate back up to step in like was the case at BYU. It is much easier to tough it out for two weeks than it is to tough it out for 11 weeks.

I hope that both QB's stay healthy this year and meet with a BCS bowl on the line.

"The latter is something the Utes have done with regularity as of late. They've won nine of their last 10 games dating back to last season."

9 of 10? Uh, tell me again who it was they lost to? Yep, thought so.

Funny how BYU can say they have an 11 game win streak going and utah tries to make theirs sound like a win streak: "We've won 9 of our last 10". Hilarious!

Hall and Johnson's injuries were not both of the same degree. Johnson's separation was far worse than Hall's, so much so that his required offseason surgery to be fixed. Did Hall have offseason shoulder surgery? If there was any doubt about the degree of separation of Johnson's shoulder and how much it hindered his ability to throw, watch the tape of the UNLV game from last year and compare his accuracy and zip to last week's game with Michigan.

Road, BCS non-conference win streaks:

Utah - 2 (Louisville, Michigan)
BYU - 0

no qualifiers, just wins

BYU - 11 (longest in the country)
Utah - 2

BJ's injury was the same level of classification as Max Hall's. BJ is just a wimp.

Says the guy sitting behind his computer...Hey I hear your mom calling you. Lunch is ready.

Both were grade 3 separations. Johnson had to have surgey because he's a big wimp compared to Max Hall. And I think Johnson wanted people to bring him flowers & baloons in the hospital. Max simply toughed it out because he could.

Hey utah you won (barely!) but we're the better team! We shut you bozos down in the 2nd half (3 points?? Gimme a break!). You didn't deserve to win and you know it! If we had got that 2 point conversion to tie it up we would have shut you down in OT and won the game, and you know it! You were just lucky!!

Brian isn't a wimp, but he is injury-prone.

Hopefully, he and Max will both avoid the injury bug this season so that both teams can be at full strength on November 22nd.

Michigan Fan - I'm glad you can only speak for yourself. We should not have to assume that all Michigan fans are that big of sore losers.

Good luck rebuilding the rest of this year.

Hey BYU Fan pretending to be a Michigan Fan. Man up! If you want to attack our win, be man enough to claim where it is coming from. Barely winning still counts the same as winning by a lot. As the rest of the BYU fans pointed out earlier, can't have it both ways buddy!