BYU-Utah rivalry

RIVALRY FACT

In 1984, LaVell Edwards' BYU team entered its game against Utah with a 10-0 record. The Cougars won that game 24-14 and went on to claim the national championship.

This season, it's Utah that's playing with high-profile stakes on the line. The No. 5 Utes are 10-0 and have a BCS bowl berth in sight.

However, perfect records and Rivalry Week are a rare pairing. The last time Utah entered the BYU game with a perfect record was in 1958 — and the Utes were 1-0, coming off a win against Montana. Utah lost that game 14-7, and went on to finish 4-7.

CLASSIC CONTESTS

1989: BYU 70, Utah 31: This one was a classic for revenge-minded BYU fans — not so much for their counterparts. The previous year, Utah had embarrassed BYU at Rice Stadium. Ute fans took advantage of their bragging rights with T-shirts that read: I was there, Utah 57, BYU 28.

The Cougars were quick to deliver payback. BYU's offense, behind eventual Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer, blitzed the Utes early and often in a 70-31 win. The Cougars built a 49-0 lead at halftime.

"At halftime we wanted a hundred points," said cornerback Eric Bergeson. "We were embarrassed last year. I went to a BYU-Utah basketball game last winter, and I was still fuming."

Said lineman Mohammed Elewonibi: "I just wanted to get past 57."

Utah was playing without star quarterback Scott Mitchell, who was sidelined with an injured knee. But Utah's problem was with BYU's offense. Detmer led BYU to touchdowns on all eight series he played. He threw for 358 yards on 18 of 22 passing with four touchdowns. He also ran for another. BYU's offense gained 750 yards.

Detmer began the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Matt Bellini. That was followed by a Detmer 7-yard draw play, a 4-yard touchdown run by Fred Whittingham and a 9-yard pass to Jeff Frandsen.

Three touchdowns later, with the Cougars leading 49-0, Detmer stepped aside for backup Sean Covey. Detmer led one more touchdown drive in the second half before calling it quits.

Tight end Chris Smith caught six passes for 194 yards, and Whittingham scored three touchdowns for the Cougars.

Utah lost its next game — to Air Force, 42-38 — to finish the season 4-8, the final year of the Jim Fassel era. BYU finished 10-3 with a loss to Penn State in the Holiday Bowl.