Three coaches with Utah roots are redefining college football rivalries
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
One of the most contested debates in the world of college football has little to do with most teams. The question of who has the biggest rivalry comes up every year. Rivalries exist due to team pride and a collective disdain for an opponent. Most often it's in regard to geography or some other common ground.
Three men in the college football landscape who have or will lead teams into some of the biggest rivalry games in the sport are trying to change the rule. Well, sort of. While Army vs. Navy, the Iron Bowl with Alabama and Auburn, and the Red River Shootout with Texas and Oklahoma are huge in the minds of fans, two of the biggest rivalries now have Utah ties.
In the last month, Utah's Morgan Scalley, BYU's Kalani Sitake and Michigan's Kyle Whittingham have been banging the same drum for their current teams.
This started with a joint effort at Big 12 Football Media Days. Scalley and Sitake showed solidarity by coming together to make the Holy War rivalry become more friendly. They gave similar quotes about the biggest football game in the Beehive State.
“For some reason, a lot of the negative stuff gets all the attention, but there are some really cool, positive moments and families that are on both sides,” Sitake said. “I mean, I have family members that graduated from Utah and family members that graduated from BYU.”
While Sitake focused on the conceptual family aspect, both coaches leaned into a respect for the chaos they hoped to usher in with a new era on deck.
“You're always going to have the extremes. That's the unfortunate part is you're going to have those extremes where people are doing stuff that you're not proud about,” Scalley said. “I just think the way Kalani and I model our relationship with one another and the respect we have for each other and our programs should lead the way.”
Read More:Utah QB Byrd Ficklin offered considerable package by Big Ten powerhouse
What is ironic in the situation is Whittingham took a similar approach regarding the Ohio State–Michigan rivalry. He's trying to find his footing in Ann Arbor, but 'The Game' is more serious to the fans and region than most people admit.
"A rivalry can be intense and emotional without the hatred factor," Whittingham said. "I don't think there is any place for that personally. I think Ryan Day is a good person. To sit here and say I hate Ryan Day, I'd be making crap up, because that's not true."
While the comments themselves and the motivation behind them are understandable, this entire concept will be a tough sell to the fans that take the rivalry beyond the players on the field. A coach can implement anything they would like, and the expectation is the players will follow. Don’t expect fans to fall in line as quickly though.
The irony came this week from Day. When asked about the JPMorgan jersey patch, he was clear about one factor. It’s safe to assume Day will not soften on how he views Michigan any time soon. Regardless of how he might feel about Whittinham personally.
"When I first heard about this (brand partnership), I knew about the reputation of JPMorganChase, and I was excited. Then I saw the logo and I said absolutely not," Day said. "Then Ross said 'No, it's not going to be blue. We're going to do it in white.' And I said okay. That's a whole different deal."
Rivalries are intense. Would it be preferable if these rivalries were rooted in mutual respect? Yes, but that is not the reality of the situation.
Whittingham is now the head coach of a program where his direct rival refuses to say the state's name. You will not catch an Ohio State fan, player or coach articulating the word “Michigan.” It’s the 'team up north' or ‘those guys’. Whittinham’s logic is sound and there is respect among coaches. But that is not going to counter something that was established over a hundred years ago.
Read More: Utah and BYU undefeated entering Holy War in 2026? What to expect before rivalry
Both the Holy War and The Game started in the 1800s when there were no modern advancements.
Despite a history of NCAA fines, physical damage caused or even people hurt in the process, it's not going to change tradition just because a few coaches woke up and said so. To change the intense nature of these huge rivalries will take more, saying the sports equivalent of “be the bigger person.”
The irony is that at least the elder of the trio seems to understand that the words alone will not move the needle. On the same day, Whittingham said “hate is a strong word” when referring to Ohio State. As if he had already gone through the new hire training.
"Make no mistake, I understand the implications that it has," Whittingham said. "A friend of mine, Urban Meyer, he was at the other place for a few years, and we would talk about The Game over the course of that span. Very well-versed in what it means, the intensity of it, the national allure that it has, and our players are the same."
“At the other place” and “The Game” are the keywords here. Notice he did not say Meyer was at Ohio State, and he did not call the rivalry the Ohio State–Michigan game. For similar reasons, the Holy War is not likely to become grounded in mutual respect just because it's a nice idea. Trying to change history will have to come from more than a few coaches saying “be better.” These rivalries have been cultivated over time.
Just like the Big Ten will cash in on Ohio State playing Michigan, the Big 12 will do the same with Utah and BYU. Two of the biggest games that will shape the College Football Playoff picture in 2026.
More Utah Utes News:
Where Utah ranked in Phil Steele’s College Football preseason poll
Utah football is all over social media after film session catches attention of NFL veteran
Joe D'Orazio sends strong message to recruits: 'Utah puts people in the NFL
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos