I'm not suggesting that Utah is or has been vastly superior, or more talented. But I am suggesting that since leaving for the PAC-12, Utah has been generally better. 8 game streaks don't happen when it's basically 50-50.

Also, the games haven't been THAT close:

Last year (2018) was honestly the first time that BYU had *controlled* a game vs. Utah in a long time. Since 2010. BYU was up 27-7, with about 17 minutes left in the game. And then Utah somehow scored 28 unanswered points, to win. That was a squandered opportunity to break the streak.

2017- Utah was up 19-6 at the beginning of the 4th quarter. BYU scored a TD, and the final score was 19-13.

2016- Utah scores a Pick-6 on the first play from scrimmage, and then turns the ball over multiple times. BYU kicks a couple FG's, making in 7-6 Utah. Taysom runs in a TD, in the second quarter- giving BYU A 13-7 lead- which also happens to be the FIRST time BYU has LED Utah SINCE the first half of the 2011 game. Utah scored a TD a couple minutes later, kicks 2 FG's in the second half- giving them a 20-13 lead, with about two and a half minutes left in the game. Taysom drives it down the field- scores- goes for 2... and yeah. 20-19.

2015- WEIRDEST GAME EVER! BYU turns the ball over on its first five consecutive possessions- and Utah scores TD's each time. Utah leads 35-0 with 6 minutes to go, in the first quarter. (Has that ever happened in CFB before?) And then Mangum leads BYU back into the game- with four unanswered TD's, while Utah can't even buy a first down- until the last possession, and holds on to win 35-28.

2014- No Game

2013- Utah scores 13 in the first half. BYU gets on the scoreboard with a FG, shortly after the beginning of the second half, and then adds another FG about 5 minutes later. (13-6) On Utah's next possession, they score a TD, making it 20-6, 12 minutes left on the clock. Finally, BYU scores a TD with 5:44 in regulation. (20-13). Utah goes 3-and-out. Hill has 39 seconds, with okay field position- and throws 4 incomplete passes, as time expires. 20-13.

2012- Utah leads 24-7, with 13:43 to go in the game, when Jamal scores a TD. About 10 minutes later, Nelson throws a TD to... (I don't remember) making it 24-21. 30 seconds to go- Nelson completes a 40 yard pass to Hoffman. Next play- Nelson throws an incomplete pass. The crowd believes that time has expired- rushes the field. (1st time) Turns out, there's a second on the clock. BYU attempts a 51-yard FG... blocked! Crowd rushes again. (2nd time) Because the play is live, BYU gets a 15-yard penalty, and one more chance to kick. Ball hits the upright. Game over. 24-21. Crowd rushes field. (3rd and final time.)

2011- Heaps fumbles the ball on first posession- Utah TD. BYU is up 10-7, after kicking a FG, and then scoring a TD with 6:23 in the half. (The next 5 minutes will be the last time BYU will lead Utah until 2016.) Utah scores a TD, to end the first half- up 14-10. The second half is an unmitigated nightmare. Final score- 54-10.

2010- BYU is up 13-0, to begin the 4th quarter. Utah kicks a FG, and then scores a TD with 13:46 left to go. (13-10) BYU hits a FG from 42 yards, to increase the lead 16-10. With 4:24 to go, Utah goes ahead with a TD. BYU drives down the field, to the Utah 22-yard-line. Mitch Payne comes in to kick a FG for the win- blocked by Brandon Burton. 17-16

So... in the 6 hours of game-time, between, in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017, BYU was winning/up on Utah for less than 10 minutes. (10 out of 360). I could probably determine what percentage of those 360 minutes Utah was ahead, and what percentage the teams were tied- but I think we already know Utah led a good portion.

Also- in 2011, BYU had 7 turnovers, and Utah took advantage, and won handily. In 2015, BYU had 5 turnovers- Utah took advantage- and won.

But in 2016, the Utes turned the ball over 6 times- and still lost.