Utah Utes, BYU football: Game big despite no title talk

PROVO — While this year's version of the BYU-Utah rivalry lacks the intrigue of a conference championship or a Bowl Championship Series like it has in recent years, the way Cougar coach Bronco Mendenhall sees it, the game is big no matter what's at stake.

"It's a great game. There are two excellent football teams, both in the top 25 in the country, again," he said. "To me, the conference championship certainly would add to it from a title standpoint. But will it change the intensity, the style of play or the intent of either team to win? I don't think that's the case. To me, it feels just the same. ... You have two teams that are having great success. Two teams that are 35 miles apart and a state championship on the line with two teams that have played very good football over the last four years."

BYU is ranked No. 18 and Utah is No. 22. Both teams are 9-2, with both teams having fallen to the same opponent — TCU.

Is this year's match-up as even as it's been in a while?

"Hard to guess," Mendenhall said. "I think if you look statistically and records and all that, it would lend itself to say that. We all know I'm not good at predicting. Never will be able to guess the outcome of a game, and certainly not this one. On paper, it looks like it will be a great game."

BEWARE OF TURNOVERS: After yielding six turnovers in last year's game, BYU knows the danger of giving the ball away.

In 2005, 2006 and 2008, Utah did not have a single turnover against the Cougars.

"It's a huge element of (the game), especially when you consider the other things that are pressing on the organization and the additional attention," Mendenhall said of turnovers. "If you're able to hold onto the ball, you've got a great chance to win. I don't think that's any secret, not only for this game, but the entire season. I hope our team looks forward to it as a great opportunity to hold onto it rather than feeling like they have to hold onto it."

PAYBACK?: Given Utah's 48-24 victory last year over BYU, Cougar linebacker Matt Bauman was asked if revenge is a motivating factor this time around.

"We remember that we lost last year, but you've got to put that behind you," he said. "Certainly there's some revenge, but it's a lot more about this year, about our team this year. It's about this group of guys sticking together and making things happen for us this year."

QUOTABLE: Tight end Dennis Pitta on the rivalry: "A lot of people at church told me that (to beat Utah). But that happens every year. To fans and to media and people outside of our program, it's a big deal. Everybody wants to be able to go back to the office or their school and brag about their team. But ultimately, it's a game to us players. We can't get caught up in all the hoopla of what's going on around us, and we've got to be able to focus and play our game."

e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com