For one half, it looked like the Holy War streak would reach four.
BYU climbed out of a 14-0 hole with 20 straight points and went into halftime at Rice-Eccles Stadium leading 20-14. Then the Cougars didn't score again. No. 3 Utah won 28-20 on Saturday, scoring the last 14 points and intercepting Bear Bachmeier four times, to stay unbeaten at 9-0 and end BYU's three-game winning streak in the rivalry. BYU falls to 7-2.
It's a hard one to swallow in Provo. BYU out-gained Utah and held the ball longer, and still came home with a loss. Here's how it slipped away.
The scoring
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYU | 3 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Utah | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Quarter | Time | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 13:52 | Devon Dampier 22-yard run | Utah 7-0 |
| 1st | 10:39 | Dampier 46-yard pass to Braden Pegan | Utah 14-0 |
| 1st | 6:19 | Matthias Dunn 31-yard field goal | Utah 14-3 |
| 2nd | 14:56 | Dunn 38-yard field goal | Utah 14-6 |
| 2nd | 13:27 | Bear Bachmeier 75-yard pass to Legend Glasker | Utah 14-13 |
| 2nd | 7:47 | LJ Martin 4-yard run | BYU 20-14 |
| 3rd | 2:03 | Dampier 14-yard pass to Pegan | Utah 21-20 |
| 4th | 12:07 | Dampier 3-yard run | Utah 28-20 |
A fast start for Utah, then 20 straight for BYU
Utah needed barely a minute to score: Dampier, Utah's quarterback, ran 22 yards for a touchdown on the opening drive, and three minutes later he hit Pegan for 46 yards and a 14-0 lead.
BYU steadied. Dunn kicked field goals from 31 and 38 yards, and early in the second quarter Bachmeier found Legend Glasker for a 75-yard touchdown that made it 14-13. Then came the moment Cougar fans will remember from a game they'd otherwise like to forget: LJ Martin, listed as doubtful on BYU's availability report earlier in the week after missing four games with a lower-body injury, ran 4 yards for a touchdown and a 20-14 lead with 7:47 left in the half.
Utah's James Chenault Jr. intercepted Bachmeier before the break, VAVEL's live coverage reported, the first sign of what the second half would bring.
The second half belonged to Utah's defense
BYU's offense moved the ball all day. It finished with 391 yards to Utah's 328 and held the ball for 31:37, against 28:19 for Utah. But every drive that mattered in the second half ended without points.
Utah went ahead for good late in the third quarter, when Dampier found Pegan again, this time from 14 yards, and the extra point made it 21-20. Early in the fourth, Dampier capped another drive with a 3-yard touchdown run for a 28-20 lead with 12:07 to play.
Down eight, BYU needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie. It never got close enough: Utah intercepted Bachmeier three more times after halftime, four in all, and nobody scored in the final 12 minutes. BYU's 11 penalties for 80 yards didn't help. Utah had its own mistakes, losing two fumbles and missing a short field goal, but it never trailed after the third quarter.
The numbers
| BYU | Utah | |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 391 | 328 |
| Passing yards | 272 | 206 |
| Rushing yards | 119 | 122 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Penalties | 11 for 80 yards | 4 for 19 yards |
| Time of possession | 31:37 | 28:19 |
Bachmeier was 21 of 36 for 272 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions. Dampier threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more.
Statistics and the scoring summary are from the live game data Saturday afternoon. Box scores sometimes get small corrections after a game.
What it means
The loss ends BYU's best run in the series in more than three decades. The Cougars had won three straight, 26-17 in Provo in 2021, 22-21 at Rice-Eccles in 2024 and 24-21 in Provo last October, their first three-game streak since 1989 to 1992. Utah stays unbeaten at 9-0. BYU, at 7-2, has three regular-season games left: Baylor at home, at Kansas and Cincinnati at home.
The rivalry comes back to Provo next year. Utah's 2027 schedule lists the game at LaVell Edwards Stadium; see our BYU football 2027 schedule.
Next up
BYU hosts Baylor on Saturday, Nov. 14, at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The kickoff time and TV network hadn't been announced Saturday afternoon. Our BYU football game day guide and parking guide cover the home games.
Related guides
- BYU vs. Utah 2026 game guide
- The Holy War rivalry, explained
- BYU football 2027 schedule
- BYU football game day
- Where to watch sports in Provo
- Who is Morgan Scalley? Utah's coach, explained for BYU fans
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 Holy War?
What was the halftime score of BYU vs. Utah?
How many interceptions did Bear Bachmeier throw against Utah?
What is BYU's record after the Utah game?
Did this end BYU's winning streak against Utah?
Who scored the touchdowns in the 2026 BYU-Utah game?
When does BYU play next?
Where is the Holy War in 2027?
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.
- 2027 Football Schedule, University of Utah Athletics. Checked November 7, 2026.
- BYU vs. Utah (Nov 7, 2026) game page, ESPN. Checked November 7, 2026.
- BYU vs. Utah score, live updates, Yahoo Sports. Checked November 7, 2026.
- BYU vs Utah live score updates, VAVEL USA. Checked November 7, 2026.