Utah vs. BYU Football Fact Page

If there are any stats you would like to see here, or if you see anything here that is incorrect, let me know at mnichol@tulane.edu

All Time Records

Utes Cougars
607-418-31 (0.575) 494-372-26 (0.554)

Undefeated Seasons
Utes Cougars
2008 (13-0) 1984 (13-0)
2004 (12-0)
1941 (6-0-2)
1930 (8-0)
1929 (7-0)
1928 (5-0-2)
1926 (7-0)
1899 (3-0-1)

National Championships
Utes Cougars
1984


Conference Championships
Utes  Cougars
26 (most recent - 2008) 23 (most recent - 2007)


Record in Rivalry Game

There is a small disagreement between the two schools about the overall record in the rivalry game. I have listed both possibilities:
Utes Cougars
53-33-4 (0.589) 33-53-4 (0.367)
50-30-4 (0.595) 30-50-4 (0.357)

Record in Past 10 Rivalry Games
(most recent: Utah 48, BYU 24)
Utes Cougars
6-4 4-6


Record in Bowl Games

Utes Cougars
11-3-0 (0.786) 8-17-1 (0.308)

BCS Bowl Victories
Utes Cougars
2009 Sugar Bowl
2005 Fiesta Bowl

Bowl Victories
(rankings are team's final rankings in AP poll)
Utes Cougars
 #6  Alabama, 2009 Sugar Bowl        UCLA, 2007 Vegas Bowl
      Navy, 2007 Poinsettia Bowl        Oregon, 2006 Vegas Bowl
       Tulsa, 2006 Armed Forces Bowl #17 Kansas St, 1997 Cotton Bowl (New Year's Bowl)       
       Georgia Tech, 2005 Emerald Bowl        Oklahoma, 1994 Copper Bowl
#25 Pittsburgh, 2005 Fiesta Bowl (New Year's Bowl, BCS Bowl)        Colorado, 1988 Freedom Bowl
       Southern Mississippi, 2003 Liberty Bowl        Michigan, 1984 Holiday Bowl
       USC, 2001 Vegas Bowl        Missouri, 1983 Holiday Bowl
       Fresno St, 1999 Vegas Bowl        Washington St, 1981 Holiday Bowl
#20 Arizona, 1994 Freedom Bowl #20 SMU, 1980 Holiday Bowl
       West Virginia, 1964 Liberty Bowl   
       New Mexico, 1939 Sun Bowl

Bowl Ties
(rankings are team's final rankings in AP poll)
Utes Cougars
     #10 Iowa, 1991 Holiday Bowl


Bowl Defeats
(rankings are team's final rankings in AP poll)

Utes Cougars
       Wisconsin, 1996 Copper Bowl        Arizona, 2008 Vegas Bowl
       USC, 1993 Freedom Bowl #25 Cal, 2005 Vegas Bowl
#15 Washington St, 1992 Copper Bowl #17 Louisville, 2001 Liberty Bowl

#10 Marshall, 1999 Motor City Bowl
#7 Tulane, 1998 Liberty Bowl
#11 Ohio State, 1993 Liberty Bowl
#22 Kansas, 1992 Aloha Bowl
#15 Texas A&M, 1990 Holiday Bowl
#15 Penn St, 1989 Holiday Bowl
       Viginia, 1987 All-American Bowl
#14 UCLA, 1986, Freedom Bowl
#14 Ohio State, 1985 Citrus Bowl
#19 Indiana, 1979, Holiday Bowl
       Navy, 1978 Holiday Bowl
#14 Oklahoma St, 1976 Citrus Bowl
       Oklahoma St, 1975 Fiesta Bowl

Big Wins
We will define a "big win" as a win over a team that finished in the AP top 25.
Utes Cougars
#6  Alabama, 2008, Sugar Bowl #3  Miami, 1990
#7  TCU, 2008 #7  @ Oregon St, 1967
#7  @ Colorado, 1961 #8  Air Force, 1985
#9  ASU, 1973
 #13 @ Air Force, 1983
#11 @ Oregon, 1994
 #14 @ ASU, 1997
#16 @ CSU, 1994 #17 @ UCLA, 1983
#18 Oregon St, 2008 #17 Kansas St, 1996, Cotton Bowl
#18 BYU, 1994 #20 SMU, 1980, Holiday Bowl
#19 @ Washington St, 1972 #22 Wyoming, 1996
#20 Hawaii, 1992 #22 @ TCU, 2006
#20 Arizona, 1994, Freedom Bowl #24 Fresno St, 1992
#22 TCU, 2006 #25 Air Force, 1991
#25 BYU, 2008
#25 Pittsburgh, 2004, Fiesta Bowl

Biggest Finishes (AP)
(with the season's average score and a list of the ranked teams beaten)
Utes Cougars
#2   2008  40-17 (Alabama #6, TCU #7, Oregon St #18, BYU #25) #25 2008  34-22  (no ranked teams)
#4   2004  46-20 (Pitt #25) #14 2007  30-19  (no ranked teams)
#21 2003  29-19 (no ranked teams) #16 2006  37-15  (TCU #22)
#10 1994  36-18 (Oregon #11, CSU #16, BYU #18, Arizona #20) #25 2001  45-31 (no ranked teams)
#14 1964  22-7   (no ranked teams) #5   1996  40-19 (Kansas St #17, Wyoming #22)

#18 1994  30-24 (no ranked teams)

#23 1991  34-25 (Air Force #25)

#22 1990  41-27 (Miami #3)

#22 1989  41-29 (no ranked teams)
#16 1985  32-14 (Air Force #8)

#1   1984  35-14 (no ranked teams)
#7   1983  42-21 (UCLA #17)
#13 1981  39-20 (no ranked teams)
#12 1980  47-19 (SMU #20)
#13 1979  41-14 (no ranked teams)
#20 1977  40-15 (no ranked teams)


Heisman Winners
Utes Cougars
1990 Ty Detmer 

College Football Hall Of Fame
Utes Cougars
Ike Armstrong (1957) LaVell Edwards (2004)
Steve Young (2001)
Jim McMahon (1999)
Marc Wilson (1996)
Gifford Nielson (2001)


First Round Draft Picks

Utes Cougars
Alex Smith, 2005 (1st) Rob Morris, 2000 (28th)
Jordan Gross, 2003 (8th) John Tait, 1999 (14th)
Kevin Dyson, 1998 (16th) Shawn Knight, 1987 (11th)
Luther Elliss, 1995 (20th) Jason Buck, 1987 (17th)
Norm Thompson, 1971 (17th) Trevor Matich, 1985 (28th)
Lee Grosscup, 1959 (10th) Todd Shell, 1984 (24th)
Jim McMahon, 1982 (5th)
Marc Wilson, 1980 (15th)

Current NFL Players (2009 NFL Rosters)
(I try to keep up with who is starting week to week. Let me know if something here is incorrect.)
Utes Cougars
Starters Starters
Steve Smith, WR, Carolina John Denney, LS, Miami 
Jordan Gross, T, Carolina  Brett Keisel, DE, Pittsburgh
Eric Weddle, S, San Diego Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis
Chris Kemoeatu, G, Pittsburgh
Sean Smith, DB, Miami
Sione Pouha, DT, New York Jets
Alex Smith, QB, San Fransisco 
Jonathan Fanene, DE, Cincinnati
Reserves Reserves
Barry Sims, G, San Fransisco  Todd Watkins, WR, Oakland
Brett Ratliff, QB, Cleveland John Beck, QB, Baltimore
Kelly Talavou, NT, Baltimore   Chris Hoke, DL, Pittsburg
Paul Kruger, DE, Baltimore Ryan Denney, DE, Buffalo
Bryce McCain, DB, Houston Bryan Kehl, LB, New York Giants 
Quinton Ganther, RB, Washington Naufahu Tahi, FB, Minnesota 
Paul Soliai, DT, Miami  Brady Poppinga, LB, Green Bay 
Daniel Coats, TE, Cincinnati 
Fui Vakapuna, FB, Cincinnati
Practice Squad Practice Squad
Martail Burnett, DE, San Fransisco Travis Bright, OL, Dallas

David Nixon, LB, Oakland

Dallas Reynolds, OL, Philadelphia
Injured Reserve
Ma'ake Kemoeatu, DT, Carolina

NFL Pro Bowl Selections
Utes (31 Total Selections) Cougars (25 Total Selections)
Jack Johnson ('39) Dick Felt ('61,'62)
Mac Speedie ('50,'52) Todd Christensen ('83,'84,'85,'86,'87)
Larry Wilson ('62,'63,'65,'66,'67,'68,'69,'70) Jim McMahon ('85)
Dave Costa ('63,'67,'68,'69) Vai Sikahema ('86,'87)
Roy Jefferson ('68,'69,'71) Bart Oates ('90,'91,'93,'94,'95)
Bob Trumpy ('68,'69,'70,'73) Steve Young ('92,'93,'94,'95,'96,'97,'98)
Steve Odom ('75) Chad Lewis ('00,'01,'02)
Jamal Anderson ('98)
Luther Eilliss ('99,'00)
Steve Smith ('01,'05,'06,'09)
Jordan Gross ('09)

NFL Hall of Famers
Utes Cougars
Larry Wilson Steve Young 


NFL MVPs
Utes Cougars
Steve Young ('92,'94)

NFL ROYs
Utes Cougars
Mike Anderson ('00) Jim McMahon ('82)


Superbowl MVPs

Utes Cougars

Steve Young  ('95)



Players Who "Made It" in the NFL
For the purposes of this section, we will consider a player to have "made it" in the NFL if he has played in more than 60 games. Why 60 games? That is the average length of an NFL career (3.8 seasons). So all of the players listed in this section had longer than average careers. Basically, this list excludes players who were drafted and only lasted a year or two and players who bounced around for many years but never really played (Kevin Dyson is the first player off the list with 59 games).

Quarterback U?

Utes Cougars
Scott Mitchell 1991-2001 (99 games, 106 TD, 81 Int) Marc Wilson 1980-1991 (126 games, 91 TD, 102 Int)

Jim McMahon 1982-1996 (120 games, 115 TD, 90 Int)
Steve Young 1985-1999 (169 games, 275 TD, 107 Int)

Runningback U?
Utes Cougars
Milt Romney 1923-1928 (73 games, 9 TD)
 Eric Lane 1981-1987 (97 games, 6 TD)
Fred Gehrke 1940-1950 (69 games, 24 TD) Bill Ring 1981-1986 (69 games, 8TD)
Mac Speedie 1946-1952 (86 games, 9 TD)
Charley Smith 1968-1975 (95 games, 34 TD)
Jamal Anderson 1994-2001 (88 games, 41 TD)
Chris Fuamatu-ma'afala 1998-2004 (73 games, 10 TD)
Mike Anderson 2000-2007 (98 games, 42 TD)

Tight End U?
Utes Cougars
Marv Flemming 1963-1974 (162 games, 16 TDs)
 Todd Christensen 1979-1988 (137 games, 41 TDs)
Bob Trumpy 1968-1977 (128 games, 23 TD)
 Chad Lewis 1997-2005 (116 games, 23 TDs)
Andy Parker 1984-1990 (81 games, 2 TD) Itula Mili 1998-2006 (114 games, 13 TDs)

Doug Jolley 2002-2006 (74 games, 6 TDs)

Wide Receiver U?
Utes Cougars
Roy Jefferson 1965-1976 (162 games, 52 TD)
 Golden Richards 1973-1979 (86 games, 18 TD)
Louis Thomas 1969-1974 (68 games, 5 TD)
 Glen Kozlowski 1987-1992 (66 games, 3 TD)
Steve Odom 1974-1979 (81 games, 12 TD)
Steve Smith 2001-2008 (106 games, 51 TD)

Defensive Back U?
Utes Cougars
Larry Wilson 1960-1972 (169 games, 52 Int, 8 TD)
 Rex Berry 1951-1956 (66 games, 22 Int, 3 TD)
Norm Thompson 1971-1979 (115 games, 33 Int, 2 TD)
 Dick Felt 1960-1966 (80 games, 18 Int, 1 TD)
Manny Hendrix 1986-1991 (89 games, 2 Int)
 Mike Kozloowski 1979-1986 (91 games, 8 Int, 3TD)
Andre Dyson 2001-2007 (96 games, 22 Int, 11 TD) Tom Holmoe 1983-1989 (82 games, 7 Ints, 2 TD)
Derwin Gray 1993-1998 (67 games, 1 Int)


OLine U?
Utes Cougars
Jack Johnson 1934-1940 (76 games)
 Gordon Grovelle 1972-1979 (96 games)
Darryl Haley 1982-1988 (79 games) Paul Howard 1973-1986 (187 games)
Barry Sims 1999-2008 (151 games) Glen Titensor 1981-1988 (92 games)
Jordan Gross 2003-2008 (95 games) Bart Oates 1985-1995 (172 games)
Trevor Matich 1985-1996 (148 games)
Jason Matthews 1994-2004 (142 games)
Morris Unutoa 1996-2002 (86 games)
Larry Moore 1998-2005 (96 games)
John Tait 1999-2008 (148 games)

DLine U?
Utes Cougars
Dave Costa 1962-1974 (168 games)
 Jeff Staggs 1967-1974 (82 games)
Manny Fernandez 1968-1975 (103 games)
 Chuck Ehin 1983-1987 (65 games)
Ron Rydalch 1975-1980 (74 games) Jason Buck 1987-1993 (97 games)
Luther Elliss 1995-2004 (134 games) Travis Hall 1995-2005 (150 games)
Ma'ake Kemoeatu 2002-2008 (107 games) Ryan Denney 2002-2008 (95 games)
Brett Keisel 2002-2008 (72 games)
Chris Hoke 2004-2008 (77 games)

Linebacker U?
Utes Cougars
Anthony Davis 1993-2000 (106 games)
 Fred Whittingham 1964-1971 (63 games)

Glen Redd 1981-1986 (76 games)

Leon White 1986-1993 (119 games)
Kurt Gouveia 1989-1999 (184 games)
Rob Morris 2000-2007 (99 games)
Brady Poppinga 2005-2008 (60 games)

Special Teams U?
Utes Cougars
Marv Bateman 1972-1977 (81 games, 40.9 yard punt ave) Brad Oates 1975-1981 (LS, 67 games)

Vai Sikahema 1986-1993 (118 games, 5 TD)

Lee Johnson 1985-2002 (259 games, 42.4 yard punt ave)
John Denney 2005-2008 (LS, 64 games)