Utah, BYU football: Utes, Cougars agree to home-and-home series

The Rivalry officially lives on.

BYU and Utah announced Thursday they will continuing playing beyond this year, with game dates set in football and men's basketball.

The long-time rivals have agreed to a home-and-home series in football with a game on Sept. 17, 2011, at LaVell Edwards Stadium. In 2012, the two rivals will play on Sept. 15 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Utah and BYU are competing in the Mountain West Conference for the final time this season. Next year, the Utes join the Pac-10 while the Cougars go independent in football and become a member of the West Coast Conference in other sports.

"We are excited to continue our rivalry with BYU in football and men's basketball and our other sports are busy working out the logistics to make it happen as well," said Utah athletic director Dr. Chris Hill. "It is an important rivalry to our fans and to everyone involved with Utah athletics."

The two schools have also signed a four-year home-and-home series in basketball with one game each season on the second Saturday in December. The first game will tip off on Dec. 10, 2011 at the Huntsman Center.

"We are pleased to announce the Deseret First Duel rivalry games will continue with Utah," BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said in a statement. "The BYU-Utah rivalry is one of the best in the country and is very important to the fans of both schools."

The Utes and Cougars will continue to play in other sports as well, school officials say, adding that those schedules "are still in the developmental process."

In order to include BYU on its non-conference schedule, Utah canceled a three-game series with Boise State in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The buyout for the Boise State games will cost $350,000. Utah will recoup $250,000 from Iowa State, which canceled its return game originally scheduled for next season.

The Utes filled the Iowa State vacancy with a home game against Montana State on Sept. 1. Utah's game at Pittsburgh on Oct. 8, 2011 remains in place. Utah anticipates playing a nine-game Pac-10 schedule in 2011 with five games in Salt Lake City.

While the long-term status of the Utah and Utah State rivalry is unknown, the two schools will complete their previously signed contract for a four-game series in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Ever since Utah announced it was joining the Pac-10 last June, Hill and coach Kyle Whittingham have stated their desire to continue playing BYU.