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The BYU-Utah rivalry has increased in importance following the reunification of the Big 12

By JOHN COON Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah’s move from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 brought a reunion with BYU after a 13-year separation. It has also reinvigorated one of the country’s fiercest rivalries, spanning many sports.

The Big 12 quickly designated the Holy War as one of four protected football rivalries in the league. BYU and Utah are guaranteed to meet every year as long as both schools remain members of the Big 12 – starting Saturday when the No. 9 Cougars visit the Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The protection of this rivalry extends beyond football to sports such as basketball and volleyball, where the Utes and Cougars meet twice during the regular season.

Players and coaches on both sides of the rivalry are excited that these games will once again carry more weight than mere bragging rights.

“It’s fun to be a part of and I’m glad it’s back and want our guys to enjoy every second of it,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said.

Religion fuels some animosity that exists between Utah and BYU. The rivalry has a church-state component, as BYU is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Utah is a public university.

Success within each program is a bigger factor. Both Utah and BYU have a track record of winning conference championships at the expense of the other school in their history as conference opponents. Blowout wins over the Cougars highlighted both BCS-busting runs for the Utes. BYU’s rise to the No. 1 ranking and eventual national football championship in 1984 came after defeating Utah in Salt Lake City.

During his junior season at Utah in 2001, Chris Burgess helped the Utes win a share of the Mountain West Conference men’s basketball title. But BYU also secured a share of the title after securing its first regular season win over Utah in six years.

“You try not to make the game bigger than it is, but it was just hard,” said Burgess, who also coached at Utah and is now in his second stint as an assistant coach at BYU. “You know everyone on this side, you’re close with the guys on this side and you want to win.”

For players and coaches who grew up in Utah, the inclusion of these games again in conference championships feels like a moment when the rivalry has returned to its roots.

“This rivalry was just ingrained in me from the moment I entered this world,” said Kennady McQueen, a senior guard on the Utah women’s basketball team. “I would just say it’s a big part of the state of Utah. There is extra juice for each team. Everything is a little extra for this game.”

A unique aspect of the Utah-BYU rivalry is the networking of coaches in different sports. It helped create an atmosphere of mutual respect.

Kyle Whittingham was an all-WAC linebacker for BYU under LaVell Edwards before moving on to coach at Utah. Many of Whittingham’s former assistants are now at BYU. Sitake, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and defensive coordinator Jay Hill all coached under Whittingham at Utah early in their careers. Hill also played under Whittingham.

Sitake counts Whittingham as a mentor and close friend and credits his time at Utah with helping him become the head coach at BYU.

“I really love this program and the people there,” Sitake said.

Burgess echoed Sitake’s sentiments, saying his coaching stints as an assistant at BYU and Utah gave him the chance to form lasting friendships at both schools and see the rivalry with fresh eyes.

“Being on both sides has only increased my love and respect for this rivalry,” Burgess said. “I can really understand what it means to both fan bases.”

Conference realignment shook up the Utah-BYU rivalry after the Utes left the Mountain West Conference to join the Pac-12 in 2011.

Utah has dropped BYU from its football schedule twice in the last decade to make room for home series with Michigan and Florida. And the game was moved from its normal late November to September at the Pac-12’s insistence.

Even though conference boundaries were separated, the importance of coming out on top never diminished at either school.

“When you go through the program, you see how everyone took the game and how serious it is here with the fans and everyone,” Utah running back Micah Bernard said, “You immerse yourself in it, and I immerse myself in it. “ .”

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The Associated Press contributed to this article