Rivalry rundown

The game

No. 21 BYU (9-2, 7-0)

at Utah (7-4, 5-2)

Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Rice-Eccles Stadium

TV: CSTV and The mtn.

Radio: 1160AM, 102.7FM, 700AM

Countdown 2 days away

Fast fact

If the Utes win on Saturday, they would retain the Beehive Boot for the fifth straight year and match the 1983-87 Cougars for the longest run in the history of the trophy. The Boot is awarded to the team with the best record against in-state schools.

Number 51 of note

Combined number of turnovers forced by the two teams — 26 by Utah and 25 by BYU. Both rank high nationally (BYU third, Utah 18th) in turnover margin.

Matchup

UTAH PASS OFFENSE vs. BYU PASS DEFENSE

Utah ranks just fourth in the conference in passing offense (213.4 yards per game), but the Utes have more passing touchdowns (20) than any MWC team other than BYU, and they score the second-most points in the conference (27.9) behind the Cougars. During Utah's three-game win streak, QB Brett Ratliff is 63-of-93 for 800 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception. And everyone remembers what Ratliff did in Provo last year. But it's hard to argue against the Cougars' numbers. BYU ranks first in the MWC and 10th in the country in pass-efficiency defense (100.92), and the Cougars are No. 9 in the nation in scoring defense (13.8 ppg). Last week, the Cougars allowed 245 passing yards to New Mexico, their worst effort since giving up 321 to TCU. The overall numbers are good enough to give BYU a slight edge, but don't be surprised if Utah is able to throw on the Cougars.

BYU NOTES

UNTHINKABLE: BYU has claimed the outright Mountain West Conference championship and earned a bid to the Las Vegas Bowl.

But would another loss to Utah wreck an otherwise outstanding season?

Cougar quarterback John Beck refuses to entertain the possibility of falling to the Utes again.