The terrible thing about the Utah Utes 22-21 loss to the ninth-ranked BYU Cougars in “Holy War” left fans on the edge of their seats in what turned out to be an exciting but controversial game. This classic rivalry matchup featured intense back-and-forth action, punctuated by dramatic plays and a flurry of penalties in the final moments that led to a heated debate. In the end, despite a resilient performance by the Utes, they came up short, marking their fifth consecutive loss after beginning the season with a promising 4-0 start.

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham praised his players’ tireless efforts and expressed pride in their performance. He stressed that the loss did not fall on them, stating: “They must keep their heads up. It doesn’t depend on them. They played hard. “They did everything right from start to finish.” Despite his praise for the team’s effort, Whittingham acknowledged the “unfortunate” nature of the game’s ending, hinting at his frustrations with the referees but avoiding delving into details. When asked about two critical penalties late in the game, he downplayed the questions and said, “They are what they are. “It’s a ridiculous situation, but I’m not going to get into that.”

The Utes faced more adversity when star tight end Brant Kuithe was injured. Whittingham confirmed that Kuithe’s season was likely over and described the injury as “serious”. Losing Kuithe dealt a serious blow to Utah’s offensive capabilities, as he had been a key weapon all season. This loss, combined with Whittingham’s frustrations over calls made by the referees, underscored a night full of emotional highs and lows for the Utes.

Utah AD Mark Harlan on ‘Holy War’: “This game was absolutely stolen from us”

Brandon Rose, the Utes starting quarterback for the gamehad a solid first half but struggled to find the same rhythm in the second. Whittingham noted that Utah’s offense in the first half was efficient, but struggled in the second half without attributing it to conservative plays, stating, “No, no, I don’t think so.” As the game progressed, the Utes fought hard to maintain momentum, but a combination of penalties and missed opportunities prevented them from regaining the lead.

As Utah prepares to face a strong Colorado Buffaloes team led by Deion Sanders, the Utes will focus on overcoming recent setbacks and working to regain their early season form. However, this close loss to BYU leaves lingering questions for both teams as they move forward in their respective seasons. For BYU, the win was pivotal, but it may expose vulnerabilities as they continue their journey through the Big 12.