Who is the little brother?

99 games:
Utah wins- 61
BYU wins- 34
Ties- 4

Pre-LaVell Era: Utah, 41-8-4
LaVell Era: BYU, 22-7
Post-LaVell Era: Utah, 13-4

Do Utah fans like being in the PAC-12? Yep. It's awesome, but our fandom is not a result of that association. It enhances our enjoyment. It's really fun beating USC, Stanford, Oregon, UCLA, Arizona, etc. It's been fun watching Utah rise from a basement team, to a contender to play in the Rose Bowl.

I'm also a BYU fan- 11 games of the year. BYU is a good team, with a rich tradition, and national brand. They won a National Championship in 1984, had a Heisman winner in 1990, and have had some incredible QB's throughout the year.

Did Utah essentially win the lottery, when they were invited to join the PAC-12? Absolutely. Did their undefeated seasons in '04 and '08 play a role in that? I don't know. Maybe. But the biggest factor was that Texas and the other BIG-XII teams declined the invite. Utah and Colorado was the backup plan. And guess what- as a Ute- I'm totally cool with that.

I enjoy the Rivalry Game. I want to play it every year. It's historic. It's contributed to the identities of BOTH teams. And it's one of the most unique rivalries in CFB due to the close proximity, and the fact that players of one team have ended up playing or coaching at the other, and families have had boys play for both teams.

I personally get tired of fans of either team accusing the other of having "little brother syndrome". It's evidence of immaturity and insecurity. The truth is that both teams have accomplished things that the other hasn't. Both have advantages that the other doesn't. (I'll fully admit that if BYU had received a P5 invite, and Utah had tried to go Indy to save face, they would never have made it as far as BYU has- although I don't personally like Independence.) There's no need to get so defensive, or become so inflammatory.

If one team is the older brother, I'd think it's Utah- older school, older team, 27 more wins... but then LaVell came to town, and BYU owned Utah for three decades...

Maybe Utah is Payton Manning, and BYU is Eli Manning. Both brothers are great! (Utah State is the brother with spinal stenosis.) 🙂

49 days from now, the game will be on! 7 weeks from tonight! I just felt a wave of euphoria as I typed those words...

May the best team win!