The Holy War is the name given to the American college football rivalry game played annually by the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars and the University of Utah Utes. It is part of the larger BYU–Utah sports rivalry. In this context, the term "Holy War" refers to the fact that BYU is owned and administered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the University of Utah is a public university with a large LDS student population. The winner of this event wins an trophy
The BYU Cougars are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Brigham Young University (BYU), located in Provo, Utah. BYU fields 21 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) varsity athletic teams. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference for all sports except men's volleyball which is a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. They were a member of the West Coast Conference from 2011 to 2022. From 1999 to 2011 they were a member of the Mountain West Conference and before the formation of the MW, the Cougars competed in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Mountain States Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference. BYU officially joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023.
The 1990 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars offense scored 524 points while the defense allowed 350 points. Led by head coach LaVell Edwards, the team participated in the Holiday Bowl.
The 1981 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by 10th-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, winning their sixth consecutive conference title with a conference record of 7–1. BYU was invited to the 1981 Holiday Bowl, where they defeated Washington State. They were ranked 13th in the final AP Poll with an overall record of 11–2.
The 1983 BYU Cougars football team represented the Brigham Young University (BYU) in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The team was led by head coach LaVell Edwards, in his twelfth year, and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. They finished the season with a record of eleven wins and one loss, and with a victory over Missouri in the Holiday Bowl. The Cougars offense scored 505 points while the defense allowed 247 points.
The 1993 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth season under head coach Ron McBride, the Utes compiled an overall record of 7–5 record with a mark of 5–3 against conference opponents, tied for fourth place in the WAC, and were outscored by their opponents 396 to 390. Utah was invited to the Freedom Bowl, where they lost to the USC. The team played home games at Robert Rice Stadium in Salt Lake City.
The 1984 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) in the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by 13th-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, winning the conference for the ninth consecutive year. The Cougars finished the regular season as the only undefeated team in Division I-A, and secured their first ever national title by defeating Michigan in the 1984 Holiday Bowl.
The 1977 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) for the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. The Cougars were led by sixth-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, winning a share of the conference title for the second consecutive year, sharing the title with Arizona State with a conference record of 6–1.
The 1978 BYU Cougars football team represented the Brigham Young University (BYU) in the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The team was led by head coach LaVell Edwards, in his seventh year, and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. They finished the season with a record of nine wins and four losses, as WAC champions and with a loss against Navy in the Holiday Bowl.
The 1973 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. The Cougars were led by second-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, finishing tied for fourth with a conference record of 3–4.
The 1989 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 18th-year head coach LaVell Edwards, the Cougars compiled a record of 10–3 overall and 7–1 in conference play, winning the WAC title. BYU was invited to the Holiday Bowl, where the Cougars lost to Penn State.
The 1965 BYU Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Brigham Young University (BYU) as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1965 NCAA University Division football season. In their second season under head coach Tommy Hudspeth, the Cougars compiled an overall record of 6–4 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, won the WAC title, and outscored opponents 229 to 178. The conference championship was the first program history.
The 1994 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by 23rd-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. BYU finished with a record of 10–3 to finish tied for second in the Western Athletic Conference. This was the first season since 1988 that the Cougars failed to win at least a share of the WAC conference title. BYU was invited to the 1994 Copper Bowl, where they defeated Oklahoma. They were ranked 10th in the final Coaches Poll and 18th in the final AP Poll.
The 1960 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1960 NCAA University Division football season. In their second and final season under head coach Tally Stevens, the Cougars compiled an overall record of 3–8 record with a mark of 2–5 against conference opponents, tied for fifth place in the Skyline, and were outscored by all opponents by a combined total of 207 to 102.
The 1987 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by 16th-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as members of the Western Athletic Conference, finishing in second with a record of 9–4. BYU was invited to the All-American Bowl, where they were defeated by Virginia. The Cougars also participated in a rare college football game played outside the United States, in a regular season finale against Colorado State played in Melbourne, Australia. The game was promoted as the "Melbourne Bowl" but was met with weak enthusiasm in Australia.
The 1988 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by 17th-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as members of the Western Athletic Conference, finishing tied for third with a record of 9–4. BYU was invited to the 1988 Freedom Bowl, where they defeated Colorado.
The 1998 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by 27th-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as members of the Western Athletic Conference, winning a share of the Pacific Division title with a conference record of 7–1. The Cougars advanced to the 1998 WAC Championship Game over division co-champion San Diego State due to a head-to-head victory. After losing to Air Force in the conference championship game, BYU was invited to the 1998 Liberty Bowl, where they were defeated by the undefeated Tulane Green Wave. This was BYU's last season in the WAC before joining the Mountain West Conference in 1999.
The 1966 BYU Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Brigham Young University (BYU) as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. In their third season under head coach Tommy Hudspeth, the Cougars compiled an overall record of 8–2 with a mark of 3–2 against conference opponents, tied for second place in the WAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 269 to 163.
The 1962 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1962 NCAA University Division football season. In their second season under head coach Hal Mitchell, the Cougars compiled an overall record of 4–6 with a mark of 2–2 against conference opponents, tied for second place in the WAC, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 197 to 170.
The 1989–90 BYU Cougars men's basketball team represented Brigham Young University as a member of the Western Athletic Conference during the 1989–90 basketball season. Led by first-year head coach Roger Reid, the Cougars compiled a record of 21–9 to finish second in the WAC regular season standings. The team played their home games at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, and finished with an unblemished record at home (16–0). The Cougars received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, making their first appearance under Reid. In the NCAA tournament, BYU lost a tough opening round game to Clemson, 49–47.
