Oh man, when it comes to college football, BYU is really stealing the spotlight right now. They’re not just blending faith with football; they’re making a serious splash this season. It’s like they’ve got this festive energy about them, and it’s showing both on and off the field.
One of the biggest things right now is that rivalry with Utah. It’s heating up to a whole new level. “It’s turned the recruiting trail into a battleground,” you know? Kalani Sitake and his crew are really capitalizing on the situation while Utah seems to be struggling a bit to keep up. After a rough few weeks, it feels like BYU is wrapping up the season like a gift—maybe even snagging a few of Utah’s recruits as a bonus.
Both teams have been super busy retooling their rosters this offseason. They’ve been actively hitting the high school recruiting scene and diving into the transfer portal. After Utah’s disappointing season, it’s like a chance for them to hit reset, but BYU isn’t making it easy on them at all. I mean, did you hear about Hunter Clegg? This 4-star defensive end just flipped his commitment from Utah to BYU! He mentioned that his mission helped him reconnect with his faith, which seems to be a huge factor for him. And he’s not the only one jumping ship, either.
Drake C. Toll, who’s a well-known college football media personality, was talking about this on his “Locked on Big 12” podcast. He said that BYU has been such a thorn in Utah’s side during the recruiting process. He pointed out that things aren’t exactly rosy for Utah’s fans right now. “They’re not in a spot where their fans are very happy,” he mentioned. It’s like the moment Utah gets a big commitment from the transfer portal, they lose someone to BYU. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster for them.
You know, it’s been a pretty interesting ride for Utah this season, especially when you look at their portal activity. They’ve managed to snag about 12 players, and that ranks them 4th in the conference. The highlight of their haul is definitely Wayshawn Parker, a former 4-star RB from WSU. But there’s a catch—they’ve also lost some key players, like tight end Carsen Ryan and, of course, Hunter Clegg to BYU.
Drake C. Toll was spot on when he remarked, “They’re losing players to BYU.” Even if it’s only one or two, they’re certainly aware of that. It seems like just when Utah fans start feeling hopeful, something pulls them right back down. It’s been a wild contrast between these two rival programs this season.
So, while BYU finished with a 10-2 record and was on the verge of the Championship game, Utah fell flat. They were expected to be top contenders, but instead, they ended up with a 5-7 record and got overshadowed by the surprising rise of teams like Colorado and ASU. It’s like they’re taking two steps backward for every one forward when it comes to recruitment. I can only imagine how much BYU is loving the fact that they’re playing a big role in Utah’s struggles.
Now, BYU isn’t just looking ahead to 2025; they’ve still got a bowl game coming up! And it’s going to be a big deal because they’re going to be in the national spotlight, largely thanks to their rivals’ struggles. They’re set to face the Colorado Buffaloes in the Alamodome for what feels like their moment to shine. Plus, it’s the last game for Heisman winners Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, so the energy around that matchup is going to be intense. This is BYU’s chance to spoil what might be a grand send-off for Colorado.
Even though they’re both in the Big 12 now, BYU and Colorado didn’t cross paths in the regular season, so this game will be a great opportunity. Kalani Sitake must be feeling a mix of disappointment not making the playoffs after that hot 8-0 start but excited about the chance to build some momentum for next year.
Meanwhile, poor Utah fans don’t have a bowl game to look forward to. It must feel frustrating, especially with the changes happening in the rivalry lately. With two players switching sides, it’s like the balance of power is shifting. For now, it feels like BYU is sitting pretty, especially with a promising 2025 on the horizon. Utah’s definitely going to have their work cut out for them if they want to knock BYU off that perch.
It’ll be interesting to see how all this plays out in the next few weeks. Can you imagine the drama as we head into the next season?