Rivalry week

RIVALRY FACT

The most recent trend in this rivalry has been balance. After taking turns dominating the rivalry, BYU and Utah are 3-3 in their past six meetings — and the games have always been close.

In the past seven meetings, the games have been decided by a single score. The trend began in 1997, when Utah edged the Cougars 20-14 in Cougar Stadium. The following season, BYU survived a two-point thriller, 26-24, in Salt Lake City when Ryan Kaneshiro's field goal attempt hit the right upright.

Thee games since then (1999, 2001 and 2003) have been decided by a field goal — and all three were played in Provo. Utah got the better of the Cougars in two of those meetings (20-17 in 1999 and 3-0 in 2003). Jernaro Gilford's last-minute interception of Lance Rice on Utah's final drive sealed a 24-21 win for the Cougars in 2001.

The past two games in Salt Lake City were decided by touchdowns. The Brandon Doman-led drive in 2000 gave BYU a 34-27 win. Two years later, Utah held BYU to six points, and Brandon Warfield's touchdown was the difference in a 13-6 game.

CLASSIC CONTEST

2002: Utah 13, BYU 6

Yes, the teams were mediocre. Utah (4-6) was already assured of a losing season, and BYU (5-6) was hoping to avoid one. But the teams still had something to play for.

Utah coach Ron McBride, who made Utah a successful program and had regularly beaten BYU, was rumored to be on his way out. His seemingly inevitable firing gave the Utes something to play for. The Cougars, coming off a 12-2 season in 2001, were trying to avoid the program's first losing season since 1973.

The Utes made that losing season a reality in a 13-6 win at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"Seeing the smile on (McBride's) face made my whole day," U. defensive end Jason Kaufusi said.

BYU jumped ahead with two field goals in the first half. The Cougars, after an interception gave them the ball in the red zone, were threatening to go ahead 12-0 when Lance Pendleton tried to sneak the ball into the end zone. But he lost the ball and officials awarded possession to Utah.