BYU was 30-1 since the 2nd game of the 1983 season going into the UTEP game with their only loss by 3 points to a ranked UCLA (27-24) that finished the year at #7 in the AP.

UTEP was 0-6 in 1985 before that game giving them a combined record of 4-25 since the start of the 1983 season. Their big wins were to NM St & Weber St in 1983 and Idaho St & Wyoming in 1984 then they beat a #7 ranked BYU (finished the year #16) for their ONLY win of the year. They were considerably beat and often in 1985 to an average score of 34.2 to 17.8


Going into the USU game BYU had accumulated a 20-10 record in the previous 2 years and the first 4 of this season and at 4-0 on this season was ranked #18 in the AP.

USU was 2-2 on the season going into that game with 1 win and 1 loss against P5 teams. They were a combined 22-9 from the start of the 2012 season.