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A mere 40 miles separates the schools, but the football programs at BYU and Utah are even closer than that. Their head coaches have worked together at one of the universities and they each attended and played for other university.

It is a Top 25 matchup featuring No. 15 BYU (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) and No. 23 Utah (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) in Provo Saturday. The ramifications are more than simply bragging rights within the state of Utah. Each is battling to keep pace with Cincinnati and Texas Tech atop the Big 12. Because Utah lost to Texas Tech back in Week 4, a loss to BYU this weekend eliminates them from the Big 12 Title Game and a spot at the college football playoff. A loss for BYU does not eliminate them this weekend but with games upcoming at Iowa State, at Texas Tech, and at Cincinnati still to be played, winning Saturday at home against the Utes looks to be imperative.

Lets dive into the schools on both sides of the ball and see what the schemes, the numbers, and their top players tell us.

Game Details and How to Watch No. 23 Utah at No. 15 BYU

• Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
• Time: 8:00PM Eastern
• Site: LaVell Edwards Stadium
• City: Provo, UT
• TV/Streaming: Fox

Game Odds for No. 23 Utah at No. 15 BYU

The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:

• Moneyline: Utah Utes (-170), BYU Cougars (+142)
• Spread: Utah -3.5 (-108)
• Total: 49.5 points

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the college football schedule!

Utah Utes

Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham
2025 Record: 5-1
Offense Ranking: 33
Defense Ranking: 6
Strength of Schedule: 53

The 2025 Utah Utes have surged to a 5-1 start, ranking 16th in SP+ with a Top 10 efficiency profile on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Utah thrives on sustained drives and red zone execution, ranking 5th nationally in success rate (53.4%) and 3rd in points per scoring opportunity (5.68) while allowing a sterling 1.3% pressure rate. Defensively, Morgan Scalley’s group is holding opponents to 4.68 yards per play (23rd) with a 34.8% success rate (18th) and is dominating on passing downs ranking 11th in EPA/pass. Kyle Whittingham’s veteran squad is currently sporting a very encouraging 32% chance to make the CFP according to SP+.

The Utah Utes Offense

The Utah offense has been one of the most efficient in the nation, ranking 5th nationally in overall success rate (53.4%) and 3rd in down set conversion rate (83.8%). The Utes dominate on the ground with a 55.3% rushing success rate (2nd nationally) and an elite offensive line that allows pressure on just 1.3% of dropbacks (7th) thanks in large part to their high-end NFL Draft caliber tackle duo of Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu. Quarterback play has been highly efficient thanks to Devon Dampier, who is sporting a 72.6% completion rate (7th) and 10.1 adjusted net yards per attempt, complementing a red zone attack that converts 86.2% of trips into touchdowns. Despite lacking explosive plays, Utah’s precision, balance, and elite short-yardage execution have powered one of the most consistently productive and mistake-free offenses in college football.

Utah Player to Watch on Offense: QB Devon Dampier

A seasoned dual-threat leader, Devon Dampier is completing 71.5% of his passes for 1,131 yards and 11 touchdowns while maintaining a strong 83.2 QBR. He’s been efficient through the air, averaging 9.6 yards per completion with a low 1.8% sack rate, showcasing poise and quick decision-making in the pocket. On the ground Dampier is lethal, recording 393 yards and five touchdowns on 6.34 yards per carry with a 51.6% rushing success rate. His combination of precision passing and mobility has made him the engine of the offense and a consistent chain-mover utilizing both designed runs and scramble situations.

The Utah Utes Defense

The Utah defense remains one of the nation’s most physical and disciplined units, ranking 6th nationally in Defensive SP+ and holding opponents to just 4.68 yards per play (23rd). Morgan Scalley’s group excels in situational football, limiting foes to a 34.8% success rate (18th) and allowing touchdowns on only 50% of red zone trips. The Utes generate steady disruption with a 34.5% pressure rate (34th) and 8.2% sack rate (16th), anchored by a defensive line that produces a 7.4% havoc rate, well above the national average. Combining stout run fits with Top 10 marks in opponent completion percentage (54.0%), Utah’s defense continues to set the tone for the program’s trademark toughness and efficiency.

Utah Player to Watch on Defense: Edge John Henry Daley

Defensive end John Henry Daley has been a wrecking ball for Utah, tallying 33 tackles, 12 havoc plays, and an elite 8.0 sacks through six games. His pass-rush production ranks among the best in the country, generating 22 pressures on 106 rushes for a 20.8% pressure rate and six sacks created, while also forcing two fumbles. Daley’s combination of power and burst has anchored a defensive line that thrives on disruption, with a 94.3% tackle rate and strong run-stopping consistency. His relentless motor and ability to win quickly off the edge have made him the centerpiece of Utah’s defensive identity.

BYU Cougars

Head Coach: Kalani Sitake
2025 Record: 6-0
Offense Ranking: 40
Defense Ranking: 15
Strength of Schedule: 38

The BYU Cougars are off to a 6–0 start and rank 23rd nationally in SP+, powered by a balanced offense (40th Off. SP+) and a Top 15 defense (15th Def. SP+). Offensively, BYU averages 6.6 yards per play (26th) and 3.17 points per drive (21st), blending an efficient ground game (5.9 YPC, 25th) with a combustible pass attack that gains 20+ yards on 18.8% of completions. Defensively, DC Jay Hill’s unit has been stingy, limiting opponents to just 4.23 yards per play (11th) and a 35.8% success rate (22nd) while forcing 10 turnovers. With elite defensive efficiency (11th EPA/Play) and a steady offense, Kalani Sitake’s squad has a 17% chance of winning the Big-12 and 37% chance of making the CFP.

The BYU Cougars Offense

The BYU offense is humming once again despite starting a true freshman at QB, ranking 40th in SP+ and averaging 6.62 yards per play with a 48.0% success rate (24th nationally). The Cougars’ balanced attack thrives on the ground, posting 5.9 yards per rush (25th) with a 49.8% rushing success rate, while also excelling in pass protection with just a 1.6% pressure rate allowed (20th). Through the air, BYU averages 7.8 yards per dropback and an impressive 10.6 adjusted net yards per attempt, showcasing their ability to generate explosive plays on standard downs (56.4% SD success rate, 11th). Despite a deliberate pace (29.5 seconds per play, 21st), Aaron Roderick’s offense ranks 21st in points per drive (3.17) and is handling business effectively for the 6-0 Cougars.

BYU Player to Watch on Offense: QB Bear Bachmeier

True freshman QB Bear Bachmeier has been a steady hand under center for BYU despite his lack of experience, completing 63.2% of his passes for 1,220 yards and an 8-to-3 TD-INT ratio through six starts. He’s averaging 9.4 adjusted net yards per attempt with a commendable 73.8 Total QBR, showing promise on rhythm throws and when extending plays outside structure. As a runner, Bachmeier adds a dynamic element with 315 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns, converting 48.5% of his carries successfully and generating 18.3% explosive runs despite facing pressure on over 20% of dropbacks. His balance of accuracy, mobility, and toughness under pressure has given BYU’s offense a consistent spark both through the air and on the ground.

The BYU Cougars Defense

The BYU defense profiles as a Top 15 unit nationally, ranking 15th in SP+ while holding opponents to just 4.23 yards per play (11th) and a 35.8% success rate (22nd). They excel in limiting explosive plays, allowing gains of 20+ yards on only 4.0% of snaps (11th), and are particularly strong in pass defense, giving up just 4.7 yards per dropback (13th) with a 22.1 defensive QBR (2nd nationally). Their run defense has been stout as well, surrendering 3.8 yards per carry (14th) while maintaining a 38.7% rushing success rate. Coordinated by DC Jay Hill, the Cougars’ disciplined, assignment-sound approach and opportunistic playmaking have turned them into one of college football’s most respected defensive units.

BYU Player to Watch on Defense: Edge Isaian Glasker

A versatile defender who excels in multiple phases, Isaiah Glasker has recorded 18 tackles (11 solo) with an excellent 85.7% tackle rate and 11 total havoc plays. His blend of athleticism and power shows up in the backfield, where he has tallied 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and two interceptions with two pass breakups, displaying rare positional malleability for an outside linebacker. As a pass rusher, Glasker has generated 8 pressures on 38 rushes (21.1%), with 2 sacks created and a forced fumble, ranking among the team’s most efficient disruptors. His ability to impact all three phases—rush, coverage, and pursuit—has made him a cornerstone in Jay Hill’s aggressive, playmaking defensive scheme.

No. 23 Utah at No. 15 BYU team stats, betting trends

• Utah has won its last 3 games when a road favorite
• BYU has covered the Spread in 4 of its last 5 games as an underdog
• The Over is 7-3 in Utah’s last 10 games

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Eric Froton (@CFFroton): Dallen Bentley OVER 36.5 receiving yards

Utah is happy to maul inferior defenses with their elite offensive line when the opportunity presents itself, which was the case last week when the Utes annihilated ASU 42-10 last week with backup QB Jeff Sims playing the entire game. Utah completed just 9 passes as they salted the game away, with Bentley reeling in 2-of-4 passes for 24 yards. However, in his previous three games, which were more competitive than their ASU evisceration, Bentley received 20 targets, catching 15 passes for 180 yards with his lowest game total being 46 yards. He and Ryan Davis are literally the only pass game options that QB Dampier who are on the field for 60%+ of the team pass snaps. Utah will not be able to bulldoze BYU’s formidable run defense that’s allowing just 3.8 YPC on the year. I expect Dallen Bentley to receive 5+ targets and clear his 36.5 Receiving Yards line, which was in the 45.5 range last week.

***

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, stadium information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Best bets our model is projecting for this week’s game between No. 23 Utah and No. 15 BYU

• Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
• Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the BYU Cougars at +3.5.
• Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 49.5.

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San Jose State was supposed to be a Mountain West player in the second season under head coach Ken Niumatalolo, and that went bye-bye right away in a stunning home loss to Central Michigan.

It hasn’t been easy, but with a win over New Mexico, the Spartans are still 1-1 in the Mountain West with winnable home games against Hawaii and Air Force up next.

Utah State has a lot to like under head coach Bronco Mendenhall. His offense is great, his defense plays like it has nine guys on the field, and it makes for a lot of fun games.

The Aggies get a tough run late with three road games in the next four dates, and they need this win to realistically stay alive for a bowl game.

San Jose State Spartans vs Utah State Aggies

How To Watch San Jose State vs Utah State

Friday, October 17, 2025
Game Time: 9:00 PM ET
TV: CBS Sports Network
Location: Maverik Stadium, Logan, UT

Predicting Every Remaining Game
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | SEC
Group of Five Teams, Pac-12, ND
@PeteFiutak

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Why San Jose State Will Win

The offense is working.

Yeah, quarterback Walker Eget is questionable at best, and top receiver Danny Scudero is banged up, but the offense should still be okay against a rumor of a Utah State defense.

The Utah State offense is among the worst in the nation at generating third down conversions, but it’s the defense that’s the real issue, especially against the run.

It’s been able to hold up here and there, but run for over 4.5 yards per carry against this bunch, and get the win.

San Jose State’s two wins came on its two best running games of the season, but …

Why Utah State Will Win

Central Michigan went on a game-winning scoring drive in the final few minutes against the Spartans.

The San Jose State defense fails time and again in key moments. Stanford came back from down nine in the last six minutes to win 30-29. Last week, the Spartans were up 14 on Wyoming with ten minutes to play, and lost 35-28.

Utah State isn’t a well-oiled machine on offense quite yet, but it’s able to score, averaging close to 40 points per game. It will keep pushing for a full 60 minutes.

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The last team with the ball gets the win?

The injuries to the San Jose State offense don’t help the cause.

Niumatalolo and his coaching staff know what they’re doing, but Eget was able to throw the offense out of problems at times. Both teams will get creative, but at home, Mendenhall’s offense will get on a roll late.

The Aggies are 3-0 at home, 0-3 at home – the road games were much, much harder, but you get the point – and they’ll continue the trend.

San Jose State vs Utah State Prediction, Betting Lines

Utah State 35, San Jose State 30
Line: Utah State -4, o/u: 61.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5
Must See Rating: 3

– Week 8 Expert Picks
– Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
– Cavalcade: The Hot Team, Nebraska & CFP?

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Related: College Football Week 8 Expert Picks for the 16 Biggest Games

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A special motion filed pursuant to the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act is supposed to operate much like a motion for summary judgment. But what if the moving party (the speaker) asserts an affirmative defense?

Air Force veteran Stuart Mackey was hired as a marksmanship instructor by the Utah Military Academy (“UMA”) in 2021. The next year, 2022, an incident occurred where Mackey relieved a cadet as marksmanship team captain. The cadet then quit the team, leaving his father, Jason Krause, quite displeased.

According to Mackey’s defamation complaint, Krause began a “smear campaign” as Mackey with the goal being to remove Mackey from UMA. Krause complained to the school’s principal, and then to UMA’s superintendent, William Orris. Afterwards, Krause then allegedly attended a UMA school board meeting and spoke during the public comment portion. Krause claimed that a faculty member (not naming Mackey specifically) had acted inappropriately on eight occasions, that there would be “legal and law enforcement” action taken if things were no resolved to his satisfaction, and that the instructor had a physical altercation with a cadet.

Saxophones? Where we’re going, we don’t need saxophones. The Utah Jazz are their own kind of symphony — one with a 7-foot Finnish conductor and a trick-shooting black bear.

This year’s Jazz are not expected to compete atop the Western Conference. It’s a crowded playoff field, and Utah is on its own timeline for reconstruction. Supporters simply want to see direction and momentum. Lauri Markkanen is the All-Star holdover who will be watched around the trade deadline. Ace Bailey is the new face of the team, and this June’s fifth overall draft pick has already teased his shot-making potential. He’ll immediately chase Rookie of the Year honors as he feels out the pro game.

The NBA will look and sound different this season. Watching it will also cost more than ever before. The league has new broadcast partners (plural) for the first time since 2002. Cable network TNT is out; subscription services Prime and Peacock are in. That expands the NBA’s total reach, but it also brings new restrictions and additional apps to the weekly TV rotation.

Jazz fans should be focused on pressing issues like, “Is Bailey a franchise cornerstone?” and “What is the best John Coltrane album?” Any confusion around the viewing process itself should be cleared up by the end of this guide.

Make sure you’re following the NBA on The Athletic. Our roster includes incisive writers like Sam Amick, Fred Katz, John Hollinger and Joe Vardon. The site’s NBA podcasts are consistently fun and informative. And don’t forget to keep up with the team feed.

All times listed below are ET. All prices are updated as of October 2025.

You can watch in-market and nationally televised NBA games on Fubo (Stream Free Now). Out-of-market viewers can stream regional games with NBA League Pass.

Pay TV base

It begins, as things do, with eyeballs and an internet connection. Here are the most common options for cable, satellite and streaming:

• Fubo
• Hulu Live TV
• YouTube TV
• DirecTV’s “Choice” package
• Dish’s “America’s Top 120+” package
• Xfinity’s “Sports & News” TV + internet plan
• Verizon Fios’ “More Fios” plan
• Sling’s “Orange & Blue” plan with its “Sports Extra” add-on, or single-day access passes

Average monthly cost: $85-100.
Covers: ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, NBC and most regional sports networks.

KJZZ and Jazz+

Most NBA teams have their own regional sports network, or RSN. But under Ryan Smith’s ownership, the Jazz have shifted away from the traditional RSN model.

Once AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain shuttered in 2023, the franchise opted for over-the-air games on KJZZ. That means all local households with a broadcast antenna can watch regional Jazz games for free. The channel is also on select pay TV carriers. Folks without a TV setup can stream through a subscription called Jazz+, which costs $19.99 per month.

The telecast’s play-by-play is handled by Craig Bolerjack, an industry veteran who debuted on Jazz broadcasts 20 years ago. He’s joined by analyst Thurl Bailey, a former bespectacled Jazz big man who was drafted seventh overall in 1983. Occasionally, we’ll get feature reporting from Holly Rowe, Utah native and national fixture in ESPN programming.

For the far-away fans, out-of-market regional games are included on NBA League Pass. The only events blacked out on League Pass are prime-time national spots and in-market RSN broadcasts. League Pass has different viewing options for home and away presentations, plus an in-arena feed that shows the JumboTron misadventures instead of commercials (if you get the premium version). That means extra looks at Jazz Bear:

NBA League Pass also gives subscribers access to NBA TV, which will air 60 regular-season contests. The two Jazz games that will be broadcast on NBA TV will also be available locally on KJZZ and Jazz+.

What you’ll need to watch these games: A broadcast antenna, pay TV package or subscription to Jazz+ if you’re in the area, and NBA League Pass if you’re not.
Additional monthly cost for out-of-market fans: $9-14 ($109.99/season on one device, $159.99/season for up to three devices).

Got it? Good. Now, let’s prepare for the main-stage action. Here’s how the national TV rotation looks this season:

• Sunday* — ABC/ESPN and NBC/Peacock
• Monday — Peacock
• Tuesday — NBC/Peacock
• Wednesday — ESPN
• Thursday* — Prime Video
• Friday — Prime Video and ESPN*
• Saturday* — ABC/ESPN and Prime Video

* starts midseason

ESPN

This is the home of Mike Breen’s “bang!” call, which has punctuated basketball’s biggest moments across the 21st century. ESPN’s other play-by-play options are Ryan Ruocco, Mark Jones and Dave Pasch. In a convoluted move emblematic of the current broadcast business, “Inside the NBA” with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson has been licensed to the Walt Disney Company. Starting this season, the Chuck-Shaq-Jet-Ernie studio show will still be produced by TNT Sports but air on ESPN and ABC.

Jazz games on ESPN

• No games scheduled

What you’ll need to watch ESPN/ABC games: ABC is free over the air. ESPN comes with a pay TV package, or a subscription to ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month).

NBC

It’s the return of “Roundball Rock.” This might be the best theme music in all of sports broadcasting. It has inspired rap samples and “SNL” skits and … this remix with Kawhi Leonard’s laugh.

NBC last aired NBA games in a dozen-year stretch between 1990 and 2002. It aligned with the religious experience that was Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, and it built legends around Marv Albert and Bob Costas. Mike Tirico leads the new play-by-play crew; he also does “Sunday Night Football” for the network. Other commentators for this NBC reboot include Noah Eagle, Terry Gannon and Michael Grady.

NBC has “Coast 2 Coast Tuesday” doubleheaders on TV, with prime-time tipoffs for viewers in Utah. NBC games can also be streamed on Peacock.

Jazz games on NBC

• Tuesday, Jan. 27: vs. LA Clippers, 10 p.m.

Peacock

Like ABC, NBC gets picked up for free with a broadcast antenna (rabbit ears never went out of style). But NBCUniversal is also trying to maximize Peacock, its over-the-top subscription service already building out a presence in college football and Premier League soccer. This season’s Peacock games are on Mondays, and most weeks have two or three exclusives stacked up to start the week.

Jazz games exclusively on Peacock

• Monday, Feb. 23: at Houston Rockets, 9:30 p.m.

What you’ll need to watch these games: NBC is free over the air. Peacock subscriptions that include live sports start at $10.99/month with ads.
Additional monthly cost: $11-17 for the Peacock exclusives.

Prime Video

It was only a matter of time, really. The Amazon live broadcast team already snapped up NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” and a round of WNBA games. Its basketball buy-in starts this fall. Ian Eagle and Kevin Harlan are two of the best, most recognizable voices in both basketball and football. They’ll do the lead play-by-play assignments, along with Eric Collins (the Charlotte Hornets guy!) and Michael Grady (he’s splitting between NBC and Prime).

Prime has the knockout rounds of this year’s NBA Cup, plus the Play-In Tournament and select playoff games. Prime users can also link their NBA League Pass to use in the app.

After 20 years working with people experiencing homelessness — from running shelter programs in Seattle to supporting HUD’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program nationally — I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. Utah’s proposed legislative changes concern me deeply because they repeat mistakes I’ve watched fail in cities across America.

I’m not an outside critic. My family and I chose to make Salt Lake City our home, and I’ve watched this community grapple with these challenges. What I’m seeing in the current proposals isn’t innovation — it’s a return to approaches that research and experience have shown produce worse outcomes at a higher cost.

What actually works?

In my years facilitating communities of practice on coordinated entry and training practitioners nationwide, I’ve seen a consistent pattern: People recover faster when they have stable housing first, then receive services — not the reverse.

Research published in JAMA Network Open confirms what I’ve witnessed firsthand: Housing First with intensive case management is cost-effective and produces better outcomes than treatment-first models. When people have a safe place to sleep, they show up for treatment appointments. They take their medications consistently. They can focus on recovery rather than daily survival.

I’ve facilitated trainings across the country helping communities move people into housing quickly while maintaining trauma-informed, person-centered approaches. The communities that succeed aren’t the ones with the most enforcement or the biggest institutions — they’re the ones that invest in permanent housing with supportive services.

The institutional model doesn’t work

The proposed centralized campus with involuntary commitment facilities represents a fundamental misunderstanding of what people experiencing homelessness need. Having worked extensively with both large and small communities, I can tell you that institutional congregate settings produce worse outcomes than community-based permanent housing.

Large facilities create their own problems: disease transmission, violence, lack of privacy, loss of dignity. People avoid them. And when you make them involuntary? Research shows that involuntary commitment for substance use disorder is less effective and more dangerous. People are more than twice as likely to experience fatal overdoses compared to those in voluntary treatment.

I’ve spent years working with the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, where we’ve proven that young people thrive when given housing, support and a voice in their own recovery — not when they’re warehoused in institutions.

What Utah should do instead

As a Salt Lake City resident and someone who has watched Utah’s homelessness increase 18% in the past year, I understand the urgency. But urgency shouldn’t lead us to expensive mistakes.

Utah needs to invest in what actually works:

Permanent supportive housing: Utah’s own data shows 95% of people placed in permanent housing stay housed. This isn’t speculation — it’s Utah’s track record when we commit to housing.

Rapid rehousing: Help people get back into housing quickly with temporary assistance. It costs far less than keeping people in shelters or jails.

Crisis response teams: Pair mental health professionals with law enforcement. I’ve seen this work in multiple cities — it reduces arrests and improves outcomes.

Youth-specific programs: Building on successful models I’ve helped implement through YHDP, invest in developmentally appropriate services for young people experiencing homelessness.

The real crisis

From 2000 to now, Salt Lake County rents have increased 140%. That’s the crisis. Research shows that every $100 increase in median rent correlates with a 9% increase in homelessness.

We can’t solve this by building more shelter beds or institutional facilities. We solve it by building affordable housing and helping people access it with supportive services.

A personal plea

I’ve devoted my career to this work because I’ve seen people transform their lives when given the right support. I’ve watched someone who had been homeless for years become a peer support specialist helping others. I’ve seen young people exit homelessness and go to college. I’ve witnessed families reunited when parents got stable housing and treatment.

These successes didn’t happen in institutions. They happened in scattered-site housing with voluntary services, trauma-informed care and people being treated with dignity.

Utah has an opportunity to lead again, as we once did with Housing First. But that requires courage to stick with evidence-based approaches even when political pressure pushes toward punishment and institutions.

The 4,600 Utahns experiencing homelessness deserve better than recycled failures. They deserve what we know works: housing, services and dignity.

Things to watch this week in the Big 12 Conference:

Game of the week

No. 23 Utah (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) at No. 15 BYU (6-0, 3-0), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (Fox)

The Holy War between the instate rivals about 50 miles apart is a Big 12 game for just the second time. Will Ferrin’s 44-yard field goal with 3 seconds left gave BYU a 22-21 win last year, when Utah’s debut in the Big 12 marked their first time in the same conference together since the Mountain West in 2010. This will be the first meeting with both in the Top 25 since an overtime win by BYU in 2009.

With true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier and Big 12 rushing leader LJ Martin (108.7 ypg), BYU is 6-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history. Dual-threat transfer quarterback Devon Dampier and the Utes are coming off a 42-10 home win over then-No. 21 Arizona State. Utah has already matched its overall and Big 12 win totals from last year.

Utah is second in the Big 12 in scoring offense (39.5 ppg) and scoring defense (13.8 ppg). BYU is third in both categories (37.5 ppg and 14.7).

The undercard

Baylor (4-2, 2-1) at TCU (4-2, 1-2), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN2)

The nation’s top two passers will be on the same field for the 121st meeting in the most-played rivalry game in the state of Texas. Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson tops the list at 343 yards passing per game and 19 TD passes. He has completed 158 of 248 passes (63.7%) for 2,058 yards, and is the only 2,000-yard passer in FBS. TCU’s Josh Hoover is 139-of-215 passing (64.7%) for 1,893 yards, ranking second with 315.5 yards per game and 18 TDs. TCU has a 59-54-7 series lead after winning eight of the last 10 meetings.

Impact players

— Houston senior tight end Tanner Koziol has multiple receptions in 18 consecutive games and his team-high 30 catches this season are the second-most for an FBS tight end. The Cougars are 5-1 for the first time since 2021.

— Linebacker Jake Golday is the Big 12’s leading tackler with 56 tackles (9.3 per game) for No. 24 Cincinnati, which takes a five-game winning streak to Oklahoma State.

— Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson has scored a touchdown in seven consecutive games. The latest was a 3-yard TD run after six consecutive games catching a TD pass.

Inside the numbers

West Virginia (2-4, 0-3) or UCF (3-3, 0-3) will get its first Big 12 win this season when they meet Saturday, and one of the reunited coaches will get his first win in a Big 12 game. The Mountaineers were in the Big East when Rich Rodriguez left in 2007. The Knights were in the American when Scott Frost departed after a 13-0 season in 2017. … Cincinnati’s offensive line has allowed only one sack. … Texas Tech is the first Big 12 team to win each of its first three conference games by at least 24 points since Baylor in 2015. … Arizona’s defense has eight interceptions, only one off last season’s total.

QB uncertainty

Arizona State in its Big 12 debut last season lost its first conference game 30-22 at Texas Tech, but the Sun Devils went on to win the league and make the 12-team College Football Playoff. Both teams go into a rematch Saturday with uncertainty about their starting quarterbacks. The Red Raiders are off to their best start since 2013, even with Behran Morton exiting early last week for the third time this season because of injury. Sam Leavitt missed Arizona State’s lopsided loss at Utah because of a right foot injury, but was practicing this week.

___

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