No. 3 Utah took another massive step toward the Big 12 Championship Game and College Football Playoff on Saturday, beating No. 9 BYU 28-20 in the Holy War at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
With the victory, the Utes improved to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in Big 12 play, remaining the conference’s only undefeated team.
And according to ESPN’s projections following the game, Utah now has a 93% chance of reaching the Big 12 Championship Game and a 90% chance of making the College Football Playoff.
Those numbers tell the story of just how important Saturday’s victory was for the Utes.
Utah Takes Control of the Big 12 Championship Race
Utah wasted little time making a statement, jumping out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter.
But as is often the case in the Holy War, things were far from over.
BYU responded with 17 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 20-14 lead into halftime, putting Utah’s perfect season in serious jeopardy.
Coming into Saturday’s game, the biggest question was whether BYU could generate enough offense against Utah’s defense, especially with uncertainty surrounding running back LJ Martin. As we noted in our BYU vs. Utah prediction, pick and preview, the Cougars faced a difficult challenge against one of the Big 12’s most complete teams.
However, the Utes responded after halftime, outscoring the Cougars 14-0 over the final two quarters to secure the eight-point victory.
It was another impressive performance for first-year head coach Morgan Scalley, who has Utah positioned as the clear favorite to reach Arlington in December.
The Utes have now picked up two of their most-impressive wins of the season in consecutive weeks, following last Saturday’s 49-25 demolition of Cincinnati.
Utah’s College Football Playoff Chances Reach 90%
The significance of Saturday’s win goes well beyond the Big 12 standings.
Utah entered the weekend ranked No. 3 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, and beating another Top 10 opponent only strengthens its résumé.
ESPN’s 90% playoff projection reflects just how favorable Utah’s position has become with three regular-season games remaining.
And while the Utes still have work to do, they’ve given themselves some breathing room in the national playoff race.
Meanwhile, BYU falls to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play, putting the Cougars in a difficult position in the Big 12 Championship race.
BYU will likely need help from other contenders, including Texas Tech, to make it to Arlington.
For Utah, the path is becoming increasingly clear.
Win the games you’re supposed to win, reach the Big 12 Championship Game, and potentially compete for much more.
After Saturday’s Holy War victory, the Utes are no longer just a Big 12 contender.
They’re a legitimate national championship threat.
