Utah football watched its most winning head coach depart in December of 2025 following a 23-year run in Salt Lake City, and almost 11 months later, the community is celebrating one of the greatest moments in program history. The Utes survived the Holy War on Saturday, earning a hard-fought 28-20 victory over visiting BYU, and are now 9-0 for the first time since 2008.

Utah boasts the longest active winning streak at 15 games and entered the day as the No. 3-ranked team in the College Football Playoff Rankings. Since both Miami and Georgia face arduous tests in the form of Notre Dame and Ole Miss, respectively, there is a chance the Utes claim the No. 1 spot for the first time ever. This was supposed to be a transitional phase. Instead, HC Morgan Scalley is on the cusp of leading the university to unexplored heights.

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Given the Utah's crucial roster balance — rank in the top-15 in points scored and points allowed — along with the parity that is sweeping the sport, reaching the mountaintop is possibly more attainable than ever before. The Utes took a huge step forward inside Rice-Eccles Stadium.