BYU battled for the state of Utah (Photo by BYU Athletics)
BYU falls in Big 12 title game, but Utah’s three FBS teams are going bowling.
#5 BYU 11-2 (8-1 in the Big 12)
No two teams got snubbed worse than BYU and Notre Dame this year. Notre Dame understandably decided to voice their displeasure with a boycott of any bowl game this year that the powers that be that slighted them could benefit from. I can respect that decision, but I love BYU’s approach more. BYU has always had the attitude of any team, any time, any place, when it comes to who they are willing to play.
When snubbed last year, they went on to the Alamo Bowl and beat the Heisman trophy winner and his Colorado team. This year, they’ll go to the Pop-Tarts Bowl and play 9-3 Georgia Tech. Tech is an underrated team that came close to the playoff this year, and for two years has come close to upsetting rival Georgia in their annual rivalry game. BYU will have the tall task of taking on Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King, one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in college football.
Credit BYU head coach Kalani Sitake and his team for their attitude and commitment to each other, their program, and their conference. With Notre Dame, Baylor, Kansas State, and Iowa State all taking their ball and going home, BYU said they’d like one more chance to play together as a team, as brothers, and hopefully get their 12th win of the season. It would be the fifth time in BYU history that the Cougars had a season with 12 or more wins.
#13 Utah 10-2 (7-2 in the Big 12)
Utah is playing in the Las Vegas Bowl this year. This will be a record seventh appearance by Utah in this bowl game. Utah holds a 4-2 record when playing in the Vegas Bowl. They’ll play a team from the Big Ten this year, a team that is very similar to their own, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. While Utah would rather play a team from the Big Ten or SEC with a record close to their own, like USC or Texas, a win here over Nebraska would be big for them, leading into 2026.
It would also be big for the Big 12 Conference. Any and every victory for the Big 12 over the other Power conferences, especially the Big Ten and SEC, helps the Big 12 going forward. Proving themselves as a conference helps assure in the future that no other Big 12 team is snubbed from the College Football Playoff when they have an impressive 11-2 record, as BYU was this year. BYUtah knows it could easily happen to either of them, again. Winning games like this helps it not to. That’s why bowls matter and are not going anywhere.
Utah State 6-6 (4-4 in the Mountain West)
The Aggies are playing a team they’ll play next year in their regular season, in the stadium of a third team that they will be in their new conference with next year. Utah State will play Washington State in the Idaho Potato Bowl on Boise State’s blue turf. All three teams will be in the Pac-12(8) in 2026. Utah State should have at least a slight advantage as Washington State has an interim head coach and are searching for a permanent one. USU and WSU play on December 22nd.
Weber State 4-8 (2-6 in the Big Sky)
Weber State’s season has concluded. The question for the Wildcats is who will be their head coach in 2026. At the time of this publication, the football team is still led by interim head coach Brent Myers.
Utah Tech 2-10 (1-7 in the United Athletic Conference)
Utah Tech’s 2025 season has concluded. The Trailblazers will be back in action in 2026.
Southern Utah 7-5 (6-2 in the United Athletic Conference)
The Thunderbirds’ season has concluded, and star running back Joshua Dye is in the transfer portal. Dye is still a candidate to win the Walter Payton Award for the best player in FCS football. Joshua Dye finished his season with 272 carries for 1,723 yards and 25 touchdowns. Dye will likely be a starter for an FBS team in 2026, and Thunderbirds fans will follow his career and root for a guy who built himself up in Cedar City.
Steve Young Award Player of the Week
The Cougars were the only team playing this week, and the game went so poorly for them that there isn’t much to pick here. Faletau Satuala had a decent game as a defender. He recorded seven tackles and a tackle for a loss for the Cougars.
Writer’s Note: All FBS team rankings referenced are from the College Football Power Rankings here at TheForkball.com. All FCS rankings are from the FCS STATS poll.
