1. BYU is winning the recruiting battle this year as they are ranked higher (note, it is still very early and may change in a different direction, but as of right now BYU is winning) Many of both recruiting pools haven't even been ranked yet so it is waay to early to make a call. 2-star recruit Harrison Handley (although he may turn out to be a fantastic player) hardly makes a dent in that equation. Every recruit is at least 2 stars.
2. Yes, clearly Utah is recruiting better than they were 15 years ago due to success. No doubt about that as would any program that has success.
3. Top in-state talent is more important to BYU? Huh? That couldn't be more off. BYU is a national brand while Utah is very much a regional brand. BYU recruits a very specific type of kid, one that is not only found in Utah. There are Mormons all across the country. Utah can't pull top talents out of say Washington like BYU can. Why? Because they offer nothing over the University there. The same can be said for any other state in the country other than Utah. When Utah goes out of state they need to find diamonds in the rough, which they have been pretty good at.

It still amazes me how people jump to conclusions when they have so little of the facts? The recruiting battle has shifted when you don't even know who's winning? Seriously? Yes 2-star Harrison Handley is clearly the difference!
BYU has recruited better according to the rating services in the last 5 years than they ever have in their existence. What does that mean? BYU is doing just fine, that doesn't mean Utah isn't doing better than they have before, but to say that BYU is losing the recruiting battle is laughable.