What was at stake: Ironically, even though this was the first time that both teams were ranked going into the game, there was no conference championship hanging in the balance. Colorado State had already all but wrapped up the title.

Result: Utah 34, BYU 31. The Utes went on to win the Freedom Bowl while the Cougars won the Copper Bowl. Both teams finished the season ranked in the top 10 in the UPI poll.

1996

Combined records: 19-3 (BYU 11-1, Utah 8-2)

National rankings: BYU No. 8, Utah unranked

Combined winning streaks: 10 (BYU 9, Utah 1)

What was at stake: The Cougars had their sights on earning a spot in the WAC championship game and a Bowl Alliance (precursor to BCS) berth to the Fiesta Bowl.

Result: BYU 37, Utah 17. The Cougars won the WAC championship game in Las Vegas but were snubbed by the Fiesta Bowl. They beat Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl to finish 14-1. The Utes lost in the Copper Bowl.

2001

Combined records: 17-2 (BYU 10-0, Utah 7-2)

National rankings: BYU No. 8, Utah unranked

Combined winning streaks: 12 (BYU 10, Utah 2)

What was at stake: The Cougars were in contention for a BCS bid and looking to earn their first outright MWC championship in then-coach Gary Crowton's inaugural season.

Result: BYU 24, Utah 21. The Cougars were snubbed again by the BCS bowls. They went 1-2 in their final three games, including a loss in the Liberty Bowl. Utah beat USC in the Las Vegas Bowl.

2004

Combined records: 15-5 (Utah 10-0, BYU 5-5)

National rankings: Utah No. 5, BYU unranked

Combined winning streaks: 14 (Utah 14, BYU 0)

What was at stake: ESPN's College Game Day was on hand for this one.

The Utes needed one more win to earn a BCS berth and become the first non-BCS school to accomplish that feat. The Cougars needed a victory to become bowl-eligible and avoid a third straight losing season.

Result: Utah 52, BYU 21. The Utes received a bid to the Fiesta Bowl, which they won handily. In the coming weeks, then-Utah coach Urban Meyer took the job at Florida, and Crowton resigned, opening the door for the two teams' defensive coordinators to take over — Kyle Whittingham at Utah and Bronco Mendenhall at BYU.

The BIG game

No. 16 BYU at No. 8 Utah

Saturday, 4 p.m.; Rice-Eccles Stadium

TV: The mtn.; Radio: 700 AM, 1160 AM, 102.7 FM

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E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com