According to The Athletic, the BYU–Utah showdown earned that spot in their list of the best college football rivalries—just behind Oregon–Oregon State at No. 27 and ahead of Stanford–Cal at No. 29 .
Here’s why this ranking is meaningful:
🔥 Why No. 28?
Historic Significance: Dating back to 1896 (or 1922, depending on source), it’s a rivalry over 100 years old .
Cultural Tensions: It’s not just football—there’s the distinctive dynamic of BYU’s LDS affiliation versus Utah’s secular diversity .
Renewed Stakes: Both teams now play in the Big 12, with this matchup designated as a “protected” annual game, heightening its importance .
📺 National Appeal
The 2024 “Holy War” pulled in a massive 2.07 million viewers—the biggest TV audience the series has seen in a decade .
🏆 Nickname Cred
Beyond gameplay, “Holy War” is itself considered iconic—ranked No. 6 for rival game nicknames by SI.com .
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TL;DR
📌 Ranked 28th nationally by The Athletic for intensity, cultural backdrop, and legacy.
📈 Huge TV draw—2.07M in 2024.
🔧 Big 12 renewal adds fresh stakes and consistent conference relevance.
