Return of the Holy War thrills BYU coach Kalani Sitake: 'We're excited that one's on the schedule'

After decades of facing each other annually in ‘The Holy War,’ BYU and Utah had some lapses in the annual series due to a series of conference realignment moves. But that will change going into 2024.

Both programs are set to be in the Big 12 going forward, meaning the annual matchup is back on the table.

BYU coach Kalani Sitake couldn’t be more thrilled as a former BYU fullback who has had his fair share of experience with the rivalry dubbed ‘The Holy War.’

“I mean before I was a head coach and before I was a former player for the legend LaVell Edwards I was a BYU fan,” Sitake said at the Big 12 Media Days. “And it just made sense that that game was always on the schedule. I remember when BYU was playing Utah in the WAC and then the Mountain West, and then we went through some realignment in the conferences and BYU tried to continue to play that game when we were in the independent era.”

Sitake went 2-2 against the Utes as a player in the Holy War, experiencing some mixed results. He’ll hope to be more successful as a head coach, but the series has been a little lopsided of late.

Utah has won nine of the last 10 meetings, though BYU won the most recent meeting back in 2021.

Both teams will be itching to play this season as the rivalry heats back up in earnest.

“Now that we’re in the Big 12 it makes sense that we’re in the same conference and also that they’re on our schedule,” Sitake said. “So we’re looking forward to that game. Looking forward to getting up to Salt Lake City and playing them. We have other games before that one, but we’re excited that one’s on the schedule.”

The two teams won’t meet until November, when both have already had a chance to fully get their feet under them. The game will be played on Nov. 9.

Importantly, both teams will have a bye week before the contest, which is at Utah this year. That will give them a chance to adequately scout and prepare, and it should make for a very compelling return for the Holy War.