The Holy War is the name given to the American college football rivalry game played by the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars and the University of Utah Utes, nearly annually. 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 with a 98% LDS student population and the U of U is a secular, public university, which has a substantial but far less monolithic student population. Currently, the U of U president and head football coach are Latter-day Saints.
The Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars and the University of Utah (Utah) Utes have a longstanding intercollegiate rivalry. The annual college football game is frequently referred to as the Holy War. In the 1890s, when BYU was still known as Brigham Young Academy (BYA), the two schools started competing athletically. The schools have met continually since 1909 in men's basketball, and met once a year in football from 1922 to 2013, with the exception of 1943–45 when BYU did not field a team due to World War II. Both schools formerly competed in the Mountain West Conference, but both teams left the MWC in 2011—Utah joined the Pac-12 Conference and BYU became a football independent while joining the West Coast Conference for other sports. Both teams currently compete in the Big XII Conference, with BYU joining in 2023 and Utah being added to the conference in 2024.
Anthony Lee Adams is an American former professional football player, a quarterback in the World Football League (WFL), National Football League (NFL), and Canadian Football League (CFL).
Eric Steven Weddle is an American former professional football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played college football for the Utah Utes, where he earned consensus All-American honors in 2006, and was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. During his nine seasons with the Chargers, Weddle received three Pro Bowl and two first-team All-Pro selections. Weddle spent his next three seasons as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, earning Pro Bowl honors in each and extending his total selections to six. He retired after playing for the Los Angeles Rams in 2019, but returned two years later to join the Rams on their playoff run, which culminated with a victory in Super Bowl LVI. Following the championship, he retired a second time.
The 2009 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team, coached by 5th year head football coach Kyle Whittingham, played its home games in Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The 2010 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by sixth year head coach Kyle Whittingham and played their homes game in Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were members of the Mountain West Conference. 2010 was the Utes' final year in the Mountain West, as they began play in the Pac-12 in 2011.
The 2011 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by seventh year head coach Kyle Whittingham and played their home games in Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. After playing the previous 12 seasons in the Mountain West Conference, this was Utah's first season in the new Pac-12 Conference in the South Division. They are the first former "BCS Buster" to join a BCS conference. They finished the season 8–5, 4–5 to finish in a tie for third place in the South Division. They were invited to the Sun Bowl where they defeated Georgia Tech 30–27 in overtime.
Matthew Retinai Asiata is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) and Alliance of American Football (AAF). He attended Hunter High School and played college football at Utah. Asiata was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent. Asiata is tied with a number of other Vikings players for the franchise record of most rushing touchdowns in a single game at three. He achieved this feat three times; once in 2013 and twice during the 2014 season when he started nine games after Adrian Peterson was suspended.
Starlite Lotulelei Jr. is a Tongan former professional player of American football who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He played college football for the Utah Utes, and shared the Morris Trophy for the best lineman in the Pac-12 Conference.
Marcus Alan Williams is an American professional football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes.
Zaccheus Malik Moss is an American professional football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Utah and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Jaylon Lawrence Johnson is an American professional football cornerback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes.
Bradlee Joseph Ioane Anae is an American professional football linebacker for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Utah.
Julian Blackmon is an American professional football safety for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Utah.
Devin Eric Lloyd is an American professional football linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes and was selected by the Jaguars in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Clark Dwaine Phillips III is an American professional football cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes, where he was named a unanimous All-American.
Nephi Sewell is an American Samoan professional football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Nevada and Utah and was signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Bryson Barnes is an American football quarterback who plays for the Utah State Aggies. He previously played for the Utah Utes.
Sione Vaki is an American professional football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes as a two-way player. Vaki was selected by the Lions in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Zemaiah Vaughn is an American football cornerback for the Utah Utes.
