No. 9 BYU vs. No. 3 Utah: How to watch, listen to or stream Saturday’s rivalry showdown
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No. 9 BYU (7-1, 4-1) at No. 3 Utah (8-0, 5-0)
- Kickoff: Saturday, 10 a.m. MST
- Venue: Rice-Eccles Stadium (capacity: 51,444)
- TV: ABC
- Livestream: espn.com/live or Disney+
- BYU radio broadcast: KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM/Sirius XM channel 166
- Utah radio broadcast: ESPN 700 AM/92.1 FM/Sirius XM channel 83
- Series: Utah leads series, 62-37-4
The trends
For BYU: The Cougars are 7-1, returning to the win column last week against Arizona State after suffering an upset loss at UCF on Oct. 24.
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BYU is scoring an average of 32.4 points per game and allowing 18.8 points per game defensively.
The Cougars have won three-straight rivalry matchups with Utah dating back to 2021, but they’ve only won at Rice-Eccles Stadium once (2024) since 2006.
In addition to being the first top-10 showdown between BYU and Utah in series history, Saturday is particularly massive for BYU in its College Football Playoff push. Sitting at No. 9 in the CFP rankings, beating the Utes would give the Cougars a third top-25 win and keep them in the thick of the Big 12 championship game race. A loss, however, would likely end any playoff chances for BYU.
For Utah: The Utes remain the lone unbeaten team in the Big 12, returning home to Salt Lake City after capturing an important road win at Cincinnati.
Utah is scoring an average of 38.9 points per game and allowing 15.9 points per game defensively.
The Utes are in the midst of a three-game rivalry losing streak, with first-year head coach Morgan Scalley now holding the opportunity to reclaim in-state bragging rights with a win on Saturday.
Players to watch
BYU running back LJ Martin (4) splits Utah safety Tao Johnson (5) and Utah safety Jackson Bennee (23) during a run as BYU and Utah play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret NewsBYU running back LJ Martin: Sidelined with an injury for the past month, Martin is currently listed as “questionable” on BYU’s availability report, but Pete Thamel of ESPN has reported that Martin is “on track to dress and attempt to play on Saturday.”
The Cougars definitely need their bell cow back. The reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year was averaging nearly 8 yards per carry prior to his injury, and BYU has run for less than 2.5 yards per attempt across the past two weeks.
Even at less than 100% healthy, Martin is clearly BYU’s top rushing option. How he fares on the ground against Utah — and how available or limited he may be — will determine a great deal for the Cougar offense, especially in opening up its passing game and giving Bear Bachmeier better opportunities to run as well.
Simply put, BYU is a completely different team with Martin in the backfield. The timing couldn’t be better for his potential return to action. The Cougars managed to defeat Notre Dame without Martin, but they’ll need his help to upset another top-three-ranked opponent in the Utes. — Payne
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) passes the ball during the second half of the game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret NewsUtah quarterback Devon Dampier: Heading into the biggest game of the season for Utah, there is a lot riding on the shoulders of Devon Dampier.
The quarterback is averaging 234 passing yards a game and is coming off a three-touchdown, 260-yard performance through the air at Cincinnati. While his passing has been on full display through much of the season, his dual-threat ability still gives opposing coaches fits.
Through eight games, the senior signal caller has less than half the rushing yards he had a season ago when he played in 12 of Utah’s 13 games. Only twice has Dampier rushed for more than 50 yards so far in 2026, but it does not mean he won’t keep defenses on their heels with his legs.
Just ask Houston coach Willie Fritz. Dampier more than doubled his previous season-high of 71 when he rushed for 150 yards against the red Cougars. It seems when a team takes away the pass, he beats them with his legs, and vice versa, and, as many teams have found out, the Ute quarterback is a tough player to contain.
The BYU defense will have its hands full as the Cougars try to slow down No. 4 in red. — Madson
Quotable
BYU's Kalani Sitake, left, and Utah's Morgan Scalley participate in 2026 Big 12 football media days in Frisco, Texas, which ran Tuesday, July 7 and Wednesday, July 8, 2026. | Brandon Judd, Deseret News“That (rivalry game) is different every time. No matter what you guys think is going to happen, it is a different (game). I am more focused on trying to get our team (playing better).
“... (Utah) is a great team and they’re ranked. They are undefeated for a reason. So it is not going to be an easy task, but I am looking forward to the matchup.”—BYU coach Kalani Sitake
“Yes, we have a predominant religion as part of one school, but I think we make too much of that. There are young men playing on both teams that aren’t LDS and there are fans that aren’t LDS. We’re fans and we’re players, and at the end of the day, does God care who wins this game? No. Does He care about people? Yeah. I think we can be better to each other in that realm.
“But definitely, like I said, the proximity, how close we are and family members having gone to both schools, is what makes (the rivalry) so good.”—Utah coach Morgan Scalley
Next up
- BYU: vs. Baylor on Nov. 14
- Utah: at Arizona on Nov. 14
BYU schedule
- Sept. 5 — defeated Utah Tech, 63-7
- Sept. 12 — defeated Arizona, 28-17
- Sept. 19 — defeated Colorado State, 41-23
- Oct. 3 — defeated TCU, 17-10
- Oct. 9 — defeated Iowa State, 24-10
- Oct. 17 — defeated Notre Dame, 28-24
- Oct. 24 — lost at UCF, 39-31
- Oct. 31 — defeated Arizona State, 27-20
- Nov. 7 — at Utah
- Nov. 14 — Baylor
- Nov. 21 — at Kansas
- Nov. 28 — Cincinnati
Utah schedule
- Sept. 3 — vs. Idaho, W 66-14
- Sept. 12 — vs. Arkansas, W 43-10
- Sept. 19 — vs. Utah State, W 33-0
- Sept. 26 — at Iowa State, W 31-17
- Oct. 10 — vs. Kansas, W 41-24
- Oct. 17 — at Colorado, W 27-24
- Oct. 24 — vs. Houston, W 21-13
- Oct. 31 — at Cincinnati, W 49-25
- Nov. 7 — vs. BYU
- Nov. 14 — at Arizona
- Nov. 21 — at TCU
- Nov. 27 — vs. West Virginia