Bowl games or not, there were other things at stake Saturday.

For instance, bragging rights, quality of life, ability to sleep nights, etc. You don't lose this game and not revisit it over and over. Which accounted for Whittingham saying this week produced the most emotion swings he'd experienced since last year when he decided to coach Utah rather than BYU.

"This was the sweetest victory I've ever been a part of," he said, "and I could not be prouder of a bunch of guys than those in the locker room."

If proof of the game's importance is needed, consider this: 2005 was an "off" year. Although both teams appear bowl-bound, each went 6-5 in the regular season. They didn't exactly terrorize the countryside.

Neither team won a championship. In his weekly press conference on Monday, Whittingham labeled the season "mediocre" for both schools.

That, of course, had no effect on how they felt about Saturday.

You'd think they were playing to save the planet. The Utes jumped out to a 24-3 lead at the half, seemingly in control. But there was no reason to warm the car up yet. BYU roared back to tie, thanks largely to three third-quarter touchdowns.

On the second play of overtime, though, Ratliff found LaTendresse on a 25-yard scoring pass. Utah held BYU from scoring to end the game.

"It's hard to read how big this game is until you play in it," said Ratliff, a junior college transfer whose teammates got him up to speed on its importance.

Nobody will need to explain it to him next year.

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E-mail: rock@desnews.com