Rivalry week factoids

FAST FACT

Utah is on a three-game win streak over BYU, and during that span, points have been hard to come by for the Cougars. Under the direction of then-defensive coordinator and current head coach Kyle Whittingham, the Utes have held the Cougars to an average of nine points in the past three meetings. In fact, BYU didn't score a touchdown in two of those games. The Cougars kicked two field goals in a 13-6 loss in 2002 at Rice-Eccles Stadium and were shut out 3-0 in 2003 at LaVell Edwards Stadium. This season, the Cougars average 33.4 points per game.

WHO COULD FORGET?

1997: It was an unspectacular matchup between two struggling teams. But future NFL receiver Kevin Dyson gave a big-time performance in the Utes' 20-14 victory at Cougar Stadium. Dyson produced a big play every time the Utes needed one, coming up with nine catches for 143 yards. Dyson's biggest catch came on a third-and-8 play, when he jumped in front of BYU defensive back Omarr Morgan for a 27-yard reception. That play, which came with the Cougars leading 14-10, kept alive a drive that led to the eventual winning score early in the fourth quarter.

"I'm just so happy to go out like this. I'm sad to be leaving, but what a way to go out," Dyson said. " . . . I was in the zone. I wanted the ball."

QUOTABLE

"We took what Utah gave us, and ran all over them." — James Johnson, BYU senior lineman, after the Cougars punished the Utes for 366 rushing yards in a 37-17 win in 1996.

NUMBER OF NOTE

3,370 — Number of yards the Utes are missing out on without Brian Johnson in the lineup. Johnson accounted for 3,370 of Utah's 4,635 total yards through 10 games.