Utah won the Holy War 28-20 on Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. What many fans on both sides were sharing by Sunday morning wasn't a play. It was the two head coaches, friends since their years together on Utah's staff, meeting after the final whistle.
A post shared widely on X said Utah's Morgan Scalley and BYU's Kalani Sitake prayed together after the game. The Deseret News' postgame coverage shows Sitake embracing Scalley after Utah's win; the stories we read don't describe a prayer, so we haven't confirmed that detail on our own. What both coaches said on the record lines up with the moment either way.
What Sitake said
Sitake's team had just seen its three-game winning streak in the series end, and he opened with his friend.
"Congratulations to Morgan. It's good to see him at midfield, and I love that guy," Sitake said, as reported by the Deseret News' Jackson Payne.
He called it "a cool, respectful game," said he was "really impressed with Utah. Really impressed with the environment, the fans," and called the Utes "one of the best teams in the country." Then he turned to his own side: "I'm sorry to all of Cougar Nation."
What Scalley said
It was Scalley's first win over BYU as Utah's head coach, and he gave Sitake's program credit in the same breath.
"(Kalani and I) wanted to make it about what's good. We wanted to have a less toxic environment when it comes to the rivalry," Scalley said, according to the Deseret News. "But I have nothing but respect for Kalani, that staff, the way they prepare their guys and the way their guys play."
Why it landed this year
The two men coached side by side on Kyle Whittingham's Utah staff for about a decade, with Sitake as Scalley's defensive coordinator. Our profile of Scalley covers that history.
In the week before the game, Scalley asked both fan bases to change the tone. "The hatred, the toxicity that is spewed from both sides, to me it's not good for the rivalry," he said at his Monday news conference, as reported by the Deseret News' Joe Coles. "Kalani's a dear friend, so I love him and I'm grateful for what he taught me and excited to go against him."
He also put it in terms both fan bases would recognize: "At the end of the day, does God care who wins this game? No. Does he care about people? Yes."
That was a deliberate turn from 2024, when the game in Salt Lake ended with taunting, thrown trash and a fan's arrest, and the two universities' presidents have since pushed a joint "Rival Right" campaign. The rivalry explainer has the longer history.
What's next
BYU, now 7-2, hosts Baylor on Saturday, Nov. 14, at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The game itself is in our Utah 28, BYU 20 recap. The rivalry returns to Provo in 2027.
Related guides
- Utah 28, BYU 20: Holy War 2026 recap
- Who is Morgan Scalley? Utah's coach, explained for BYU fans
- The Holy War rivalry, explained
- BYU football 2027 schedule
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Kalani Sitake and Morgan Scalley pray together after the BYU-Utah game?
What did Kalani Sitake say about Morgan Scalley after the game?
What did Morgan Scalley say about Kalani Sitake after the game?
Are Kalani Sitake and Morgan Scalley friends?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- BYU vs. Utah: Kalani Sitake praises Utah after losing to Utes, Deseret News. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Grateful for the players: What Morgan Scalley said after his first victory against BYU as Utah head coach, Deseret News. Checked November 7, 2026.
- What Kalani Sitake said about Morgan Scalley and Devon Dampier after BYU lost to Utah, Deseret News via Yahoo Sports. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Does God care who wins this game? No: Morgan Scalley talks rivalry ahead of Utah-BYU matchup, Deseret News via Yahoo Sports. Checked November 7, 2026.