The 2024 Holy War is one of the largest in BYU history

BYU and Utah will face off on November 9th in Salt Lake City. When they kick off at Rice-Eccles Stadium, it will have been 1,154 days since their last meeting in 2021. BYU finally ended its losing streak against the Utes. defeated Utah 26-17.

My, how things have changed in the last three years. That same weekend, the Cougars defeated Utah and officially announced they would be joining the Big 12.

Utah won the PAC-12 Conference in 2021 and 2022. That conference is now down to two members, with some Mountain West reinforcements coming soon. Utah was in the Big 12 along with Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State.

This season marks the first time since 2010 that BYU and Utah will play each other while members of the same conference. The fact that this game once again has significance in the conference standings already gives the Holy War more weight.

Honestly, BYU has bigger goals than just beating Utah at this point. Utah is in the way right now.

At 8-0, BYU is No. 9 in the country and in first place in the Big 12 and, entering the calendar in November, finds itself in a position it hasn't been in perhaps decades. With just four games remaining, BYU is in control of its destiny: an undefeated season, a Big 12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The Cougars have plenty to play for in their last four games, including one against Utah. Plus, it was 2006, 18 years since BYU beat Utah in Salt Lake. Yes, that hasn't happened since the famous Beck-to-Harline miracle.

BYU could fulfill a lot of goals with a win against Utah this season. It would be just the third time since their national championship in 1984 that BYU started 9-0. They would put themselves in the driver's seat for a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game.

The College Football Playoff is a real possibility. Most national experts see BYU as either the Big 12 champion or even the overall winner. Even if BYU doesn't win the Big 12, they can make the playoffs by remaining in the top 11. A win against Utah would only help in this endeavor.

When was the last time the Holy War had such a major impact on BYU?

2008 comes to mind. Utah entered the game ranked 8th and undefeated with a goal of bidding for the BCS. BYU was 10-1, but if the Cougars had won, it would have been a tricky three-way tie with TCU for the top of the Mountain West. So it wasn't a de facto Mountain West title game.

Of course, Utah prevailed with a 48-24 win over BYU and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

You have to go back to 2001 to find out the last time BYU went undefeated against Utah in November. That alone should make it clear what is at stake this time. BYU had legitimate BCS bowl hopes in 2001, riding on the shoulders (and, unfortunately, the legs) of Luke Staley.

Utah was 7-3 and still had a shot at the Mountain West title. But on the night of Holy War, they just wanted to spoil BYU's perfect season. And they almost did it. It took a heroic effort from quarterback Brandon Doman and Doak Walker Award-winning Staley to lead BYU to a dramatic victory.

It's fair to say that this year's edition is BYU's biggest holy war since at least 2001. They have a perfect season, a conference title and a possible spot in the College Football Playoff if BYU wins this game.

Yes, technically BYU could still win the Big 12 if they lose to Utah. But BYU doesn't want to give preference to Utah.

This is the most important holy war for BYU in over 20 years.