Game 12: Deseret First Duel - BYU at Utah

Game 12: BYU Cougars vs. Utah Utes

BYU will play Utah at 1:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, Nov. 27 in the annual Deseret First Duel. The game will be broadcast live from Rice-Eccles Stadium on The Mtn., CBS College Sports and KSL Radio 1160 AM and 102.7 FM.

BYU (6-5, 5-2 MWC) at Utah (9-2, 6-1)

Nov. 27, 2010

1:30 p.m. MT

Rice-Eccles Stadium

Salt Lake City, Utah

BYU-UTAH DESERET DUEL SERIES

The Deseret Duel rivalry between BYU and Utah is one of the fiercest and, lately, one of closest matchups in the country. Only two games in the last 13 years have been decided by more than a touchdown, with the other two contests coming in BCS seasons for Utah. BYU has won three of the last four meetings including a 33-31 win in Salt Lake City, the Cougars’ only win in Rice-Eccles since 2000.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

- After playing in the same conference for over 89 years, BYU and Utah will play their final game as conference foes. Since joining the Mountain West Conference, the Cougars and Utes have won the most conference games of any MWC team, coming out on top in 64 and 62 games, respectively.

- In the last 13 matchups between BYU and Utah only two have been decided by more than seven points, including two overtime games. In that time Utah has won seven games and BYU has won six.

- This game will be the 47th-straight time these two teams have faced each other in the month of November. Next year, Utah will travel to play BYU in Provo on September 17, only the second time in the 86-year history of the rivalry that the game will be played in that month.

- Bronco Mendenhall is 16-3 all-time in the month of November in his almost six full seasons as the head coach at BYU and is currently on a seven-game win streak during the month dating back to the Cougars’ loss to Utah in 2008.

MOST WINS IN MWC HISTORY

With its victory over New Mexico, BYU has a 64-25 record in MWC play since the inception of the league in 1999—guaranteeing BYU the most conference wins over that 12-year span. BYU’s next opponent, Utah, follows with a 62-27 MWC record.

THE OFFENSE IS ALIVE

After holding New Mexico to seven points, BYU has held its last three opponents to 10 points or less the last three games, the longest such streak since 1984. The Cougars held Colorado State to 10 points and UNLV to seven points the previous two games, matching the streak 17 years ago when BYU held New Mexico, UTEP and San Diego State to zero, nine and three points, respectively.

ON THE GROUND

With 258 yards rushing against New Mexico, BYU has had four-straight games with over 200 yards rushing and six such games this season—the most 200-yard rushing games since 2001 (also six) when BYU had Doak Walker winner Luke Staley. Five of BYU’s six wins this year have been 200-yard rushing games.

FAST START

BYU has scored at least 14 points in the first quarter in each of the last four games, the first time the Cougars have done so in four-straight games in program history. BYU has scored 14 in the first quarter six times this season overall, the most since 1983. BYU also scored 14 in the first quarter six times in 1981 and 1980 and did so a record seven times in 1977. BYU has outscored its opponents 101-44 in the first quarter on the year.

RECORD-SETTING SEASON

Senior kicker Mitch Payne set a new MWC record for most kicking points in a career last week against New Mexico. Payne passed his brother and former BYU kicker Matt for first all-time, now at 314 career points after kicking two field goals and four PATs against the Lobos.

For the complete BYU vs. Utah game notes, see the attached PDF file.