BYU, Utah Utes football: Rivalry revisited

It's a sunny, sweltering afternoon in early September 2015, and LaVell Edwards Stadium is sold out for the season-opener. On this day, BYU faces a familiar non-conference opponent from the Pac-10.

It's not Washington or UCLA or Arizona or Oregon State.

It's the University of Utah.

Instead of squaring off in the traditional regular-season finale in November, the longtime in-state archrivals are meeting in the first game of the year. Instead of winter parkas and gloves, fans wear short-sleeved shirts and suntan lotion. No conference championships or bowl bids hang in the balance. There's no seasonlong hype leading up to the rivalry game, though fans have had the entire off-season to look forward to it. The players are just grateful two-a-days are over, while the fans are still trying to learn the names of their teams' starters.

Is this where the BYU-Utah rivalry, one of the most heated and competitive in the nation, is headed?

With the Utes moving to the Pac-10 in 2011, and the Cougars remaining in the Mountain West Conference for the foreseeable future, there's no doubt their storied rivalry, which dates back to the 1890s or 1922 — depending on which school you ask — will change forever.

But how will the rivalry change? Will it diminish? Will it flourish? Or will it vanish?

This year's meeting, on Nov. 27 at Rice-Eccles Stadium, will mark the end of an era, as the Utes compete in the MWC for the last time. BYU and Utah have been members of the same conference since 1909, but that association ends in 2011. A BYU-Utah showdown during the 2011 season appears to be in jeopardy due to previous non-conference scheduling commitments. The Utes and Cougars have met every year since 1922 with the exception of a three-year period (1943-45) because of World War II.

Another possible interruption in the rivalry is a frightening concept for many fans who consider the annual BYU-Utah game the zenith of the football season.

Gregg Robison lives in Ohio but is still a season-ticket holder for Utah games.

"I kept my season tickets solely for the BYU-Utah rivalry," Robison said. "I fly back (from Ohio) every time they play at the U., and have come back once to go see it at the Y. It would hurt both programs if this game ended. It is the biggest weekend for sports in Utah."

Among fans, opinions on the future of the rivalry vary widely.

There are some who say it will be weakened by Utah's upcoming change of conference address.