Utah Utes defeated BYU Cougars 28-20 in the 2026 Holy War rivalry game on Saturday, snapping BYU's win streak in the series. The matchup carried high stakes with both teams positioning for a College Football Playoff spot and the Big 12 Championship Game berth on the line.
BYU pass rush dominates first half
BYU's defensive front, led by Cade Uluave (one sack, one tackle for loss) and Bodie Schoonover (two TFLs, one sack), combined for two first-half sacks and forced a strip-sack of Utah quarterback Devon Dampier. After allowing 138 total yards on the Utes' first seven plays, BYU held Utah to just 35 yards on the final 23 first-half plays, a 1.5-yard average. The pass rush helped BYU's offense respond with 20 unanswered points to take a six-point lead into halftime.
Penalties plague BYU
BYU committed 11 penalties for 80 yards, well above their season average of 5.6 per game. A delay-of-game penalty on fourth-and-inches forced a field goal instead of a potential touchdown. An illegal formation wiped out a 25-yard completion, and consecutive false starts by Walker Lyons turned a manageable second down into a punt situation. The penalties cost BYU scoring opportunities throughout the first half.
Legend Gasker delivers season-best for BYU
Freshman wide receiver Legend Gasker, a Utah native, posted a season-high receiving performance with a 75-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter — his fifth reception of 50-plus yards this season. He led BYU in receiving yards, continuing his emergence as a weekly playmaker.
Utah receivers struggle with drops
After early big plays from Noah Bennee (47-yard catch) and Braden Pegan (46-yard touchdown), Utah's receivers faltered. Pegan dropped a pass that would have extended a drive, Ricky Johnson dropped a catch, and Pegan later fumbled after a first-down conversion. In the third quarter, Creed Whittemore dropped a sure touchdown pass in the end zone, leading to a missed field goal.
Devon Dampier accounts for four touchdowns
Dampier rushed for a touchdown and passed for another in the first quarter to stake Utah to a 14-0 lead. Despite second-quarter struggles against the BYU pass rush, he made a pivotal 29-yard catch on a fourth-down trick play in the third quarter. He engineered a touchdown drive later in the third and punched in his fourth score of the game in the fourth quarter to give Utah a 28-20 lead. Dampier finished with 177 passing yards, 87 rushing yards, 29 receiving yards, and four total touchdowns.
Bear Bachmeier's interceptions prove costly
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw for 272 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted four times. Three interceptions came in the second half, including a red-zone pick by linebacker Trey Reynolds and a final-play interception in the end zone. Bachmeier's turnovers cost BYU at least 10 points, overshadowing his strong second-quarter performance.
James Chenault Jr. preserves Utah lead
Late in the first half, with BYU driving after a Dampier fumble, cornerback James Chenault Jr. intercepted a pass in the end zone after a bobble, preventing a potential BYU touchdown that would have made it a 27-14 deficit. The play kept the game within six points at halftime.
