The stage is set for a historic Holy War. After a dramatic overtime win against Arizona propelled them to a 6-0 start, Kalani Sitake and the BYU Cougars are preparing to host their rivals, the Utah Utes, this weekend. This marks the first time in program history that BYU has opened two consecutive seasons with six straight victories, setting up a monumental clash with immense implications for both teams.
What Did BYU’s Kalani Sitake Say About Utah’s Kyle Whittingham?
The Cougars’ head coach sent a clear message to Kyle Whittingham and the Utes ahead of the latest chapter in the fierce rivalry. When the two teams last met, BYU secured a 22-21 victory with a 44-yard field goal in the final seconds, but Sitake is focused on fostering respect between the programs.
“I think the competition has always been there, and the intensity can be there. There’s nothing wrong with the intensity being there. Personally, I would like to see it be with tons of respect. Whether we want to admit it or not, we actually need each other,” Sitake said.
That message of mutual respect comes ahead of a particularly significant matchup. The Utes joined BYU in the Associated Press Top 25 this week after a dominant 42-10 victory over No. 21 Arizona State. This sets up the first ranked-versus-ranked Holy War since 2009, with the Cougars entering as the No. 15 team in the nation.
Despite the massive rivalry game looming, Sitake emphasized during a press conference that he wanted his players to celebrate their hard-fought double-overtime win against the Arizona Wildcats. “Yeah, we’re gonna have fun with this, and then hopefully keep this momentum rolling into next week,” he explained. “Right now, I want our guys to enjoy it and just relish in the victory. It would be foolish of us to just turn around and say focus on the next one, even if it’s a rivalry game.”
During the post-game press conference, Sitake shared a heartfelt message about his close friendship with the Utah head coach. The connection runs deep, as Sitake served as a defensive coordinator for Whittingham at Utah from 2009 to 2014, and the respect is mutual. “I worked 10 years with him, I learned a lot from him, and watched him grow in the industry and in his position,” Sitake explained. “I watched him and saw the transition he made from a coordinator to a head coach.”
The coaching ties don’t stop there. Several coaches on BYU’s current staff have also worked for Whittingham, including defensive coordinator Jay Hill, analyst Gary Andersen, and linebackers coach Justin Ena. This shared history adds another layer of intrigue to the rivalry.
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Echoing Sitake’s sentiment, the BYU head coach stated during his press conference that he wants the Holy War to be built on respect. “I’ve said it before that wishing bad things on others is not good for the soul,” Sitake explained. “I’m not trying to tell fans how to do it, but it’s got to be a lot more fun when you can actually have and talk about the respect that you have for each other.”
The Cougars and Utes are slated for a Big Noon kickoff this weekend on Fox. With both sides still in the running for the conference championship game, the stakes couldn’t be higher. According to the PFN CFB Playoff Meter, BYU currently holds a 42% chance of reaching the title game.
