PROVO — At BYU and Utah, the two sometimes-estranged and often-strained brothers who have the same institutional founder in Brigham Young, the similarities are often closer than the differences.
The 23rd-ranked Utes (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) are led by a former BYU and All-WAC linebacker in Kyle Whittingham, who when faced with the choice of retirement or turning around an ailing offense following a 5-7 first year in the Big 12 turned to New Mexico offensive coordinator and former BYU quarterback Jason Beck.
No. 15 BYU (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) is led by Kalani Sitake, who played fullback at BYU under the same legendary coach as Whittingham in LaVell Edwards, but cut his teeth as a coach in Salt Lake City.
Sitake met both of his coordinators in his time at the U. in former BYU wide receiver and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and defensive coordinator Jay Hill, a one-time Utah cornerback from Lehi who coached running backs, tight ends and special teams before an eight-year tenure as head coach at Weber State.
“There are a lot of coaches down there that were here,” Whittingham said. “I’m grateful for everything they gave us; they were all outstanding for us and did an excellent job.”
Sitake has said he’ll never forget the impact Whittingham had on his career, calling him a mentor and a friend whom he still calls and texts most weeks (except the current one) after working with him for 10 years.
“I watched him and saw the transition that he made from going from coordinator to head coach, from the Mountain West to the Pac-12,” said Sitake, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, “and I had a front-row seat to all of it.
“There are a lot of things that he’s helped me with as a coach and in a profession, and I know that he’s had a huge impact on our staff, too,” he added. “I’ll always have a lot of love and admiration for Kyle … but also the connection I have for that university. I was able to make some unbelievable friends that I consider family, and meet some wonderful people.”
For Sitake, the myriad connections between the two programs — which extend to Justin Ena and Sione Po’uha at BYU, and BYU alums Mark Atuaia, Micah Simon and Koy Detmer Jr. at Utah, among others — is an extension of the state that both represent.
Every rivalry game, which has returned to its annual cadence and national esteem under the Big 12 banner, splits communities, neighborhoods and even some homes Saturday night — and then reunites them Sunday morning, oftentimes at church meetinghouses across the Wasatch Front.
“There will always be a connection there, and I’m glad that other people are experiencing it themselves,” said Sitake, who currently has a niece on the university’s color guard. “I have a lot of family that have graduated from there, and I’m no different than a lot of people in the state. It’s going to be a fun rivalry game, and we’re looking forward to the matchup.”
But Saturday’s game isn’t about the coaches, both program leaders agreed. It’s about the players, who join a long line of thousands of alums who have etched their names in the history of the Beehive Boot (or whatever current and former trophy is or isn’t up for grabs).
Many of them have even suited up on both sides — like John Henry Daley, the former BYU transfer out of Lone Peak High who currently leads the Big 12 with 6.5 sacks, and Keanu Tanuvasa, who started 19 of 24 games at defensive tackle for the Utes before transferring to BYU, where he has 10 tackles and a sack in six games for the Cougars.
“I think I’m just extremely excited to be able to take the field with so many individuals who have impacted my career, both at the University of Utah and now here at BYU,” Tanuvasa said. “Obviously, I can feel that it isn’t (just another game), but I’ve never had just this game circled; I’ve always believed that every game deserved my full attention.
“Now this game is circled now that it’s game week, but prior to, it’s been other-focused.”
In a rivalry so intense that the two schools can’t even agree on the number of times it’s been played — Utah claims six games (three wins, three losses) in the series when its rival was called Brigham Young Academy — it’s important to remember the ties that bind both programs together.
“This is a fun game,” Sitake said. “The fact that there are connections, that we’re familiar with them and they’re familiar with us, makes it even more fun.
“I think we’re all professionals,” he added, “and when all is said and done, the guys on the field are the ones making plays. I like to think that we’re all professional about it.”
BYU players and coaches celebrate a 33-27 double-overtime win during a Big 12 football game against Arizona, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo: BYU Photo)
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