Utah Fans Pledge Classy Conduct Before High-Stakes Rivalry
With both teams ranked in the top 10 for the first time, the matchup arrives as the Big 12 enforces new penalties for discriminatory chants.
By Amina Kaminski ·
The University of Utah and Brigham Young University will meet for the first time while both hold top-10 national rankings. Utah sits at No. 3 and BYU at No. 7, elevating the stakes of a rivalry that is playing out under new league rules for fan behavior.
The contest is the first BYU road game to take place under the Big 12’s updated discriminatory-conduct policy. The league introduced these measures after repeated incidents of anti-Latter-day Saint chants at away games. The policy imposes a $100,000 fine for a first confirmed incident. A second confirmed incident carries a 15-yard penalty in football or a technical foul in basketball, along with a potential $500,000 fine. Players ejected for such behavior face a one-year ban from events.
In recent years, fans at schools including USC, Oregon, Providence, and Cincinnati have issued apologies after similar chants. In 2025, the Big 12 fined Colorado and Oklahoma State $50,000 each for such incidents. The league launched a "Respect the Game" campaign on Oct. 2. However, UCF fans chanted during a game on Oct. 24, leading to a $100,000 fine and the announcement of the stricter penalties.
Utah President Taylor Randall addressed the student section on Monday. "Be loud. Be proud. Be relentless. And above all, keep it classy," Randall wrote. The MUSS student group posted a similar message on social media on Sunday, stating that discriminatory behavior would not be tolerated and that fan conduct reflects on the entire university community.
First-year head coach Morgan Scalley also spoke about civility at a Monday news conference. Scalley and BYU coach Kalani Sitake previously served as assistant coaches at Utah. "At the end of the day, it’s mine and Kalani’s hope that this thing can be more civil," Scalley said. He noted that the two schools are located within 30 minutes of each other in the same state, a rarity for top-10 teams.
The religious tension in the rivalry is notable because both university presidents and both football coaches are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brigham Young founded both institutions, with Utah established in 1850 and BYU in 1875. Utah’s roster includes approximately two dozen returned missionaries, including starting safety Nate Ritchie, who may hear the chants from the stands.
The game is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. MST at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. ABC will broadcast the match, which carries implications for College Football Playoff positioning for both programs.
