Utah Utes vs Byu Cougars Picks and Predictions January 18th 2025

BYU and Utah Face Off in Historic First Big 12 Showdown

The storied BYU-Utah rivalry takes on a new chapter as the Cougars and Utes meet for the first time as Big 12 opponents on Saturday in Salt Lake City. While this rivalry has always carried weight in football, the basketball showdown is set to bring plenty of emotions, familiarity, and intensity in front of a passionate crowd.

A New Era in the BYU-Utah Rivalry

Both teams enter the game tied in the Big 12 standings at 2-3, making this not just a battle for bragging rights but an important conference matchup for two teams looking to climb the standings.

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BYU head coach Kevin Young, who is experiencing the rivalry for the first time, acknowledges its significance but remains focused on the bigger picture.

“I’m very familiar with how much this game means,” Young said. “I personally don’t make a whole lot about those types of things. We’ve got to go up there and get a win regardless.”

Familiar Faces on Both Sides

This matchup features several players and coaches with connections to both programs:

• Utah’s Caleb Lohner and Hunter Erickson – Both previously played at BYU before transferring.
• Utah’s Jake Wahlin – Grew up near BYU and understands the rivalry firsthand.
• BYU’s Keba Keita – Transferred from Utah and is set to face his former team in an electric atmosphere.
• BYU Assistant Coach Chris Burgess – Played for Utah in college and later coached there before joining Young’s staff.

Young joked about Keita’s transfer, acknowledging the intensity of the rivalry.

“Obviously, having Keba — is he the ultimate traitor going from Utah to BYU?” Young said with a laugh. “I’m sure he’ll have an earful, Burgess as well. It’ll be fun.”

BYU Looking to Build Momentum

The Cougars (11-5, 2-3 Big 12) are coming off an 85-69 victory over Oklahoma State, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

Key Players for BYU

• Trevin Knell (18 PTS, 5 REB vs. Oklahoma State) – Led the way in their last win with a strong scoring and rebounding performance.
• Keba Keita (Former Utah player) – Will be extra motivated in his return to Salt Lake City.

Utah head coach Craig Smith understands the challenges BYU presents.

“They’re a good team,” Smith said. “They’ve got a lot of weapons on that team, on that floor—a lot of veteran guys, a lot of guys that have been through this rivalry and understand.”

Utah Hitting Its Stride After Rough Stretch

Like BYU, the Utes (10-6, 2-3 Big 12) are coming off back-to-back wins, including an impressive road victory over TCU (73-65) on Wednesday.

Key Players for Utah

• Gabe Madsen (16.3 PPG) – Utah’s leading scorer, led the Utes with 17 points against TCU.
• Balanced Attack – Utah has multiple scoring threats and has shown improved team play in their recent victories.

After an 0-3 Big 12 start, Utah is regaining confidence and looking to protect home court against its longtime rival.

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Head coach Craig Smith hopes the Huntsman Center crowd will provide a strong advantage.

“Hopefully, we can pack the Huntsman Center and make them feel our presence and get a lot of red in there,” Smith said. “I know our guys will be super excited (to play) a very good BYU team that can hit you in a lot of ways.”

Can BYU Snap Utah’s Home Dominance?

Utah won last year’s matchup at home, 73-69, and is looking to continue that momentum in their first-ever Big 12 clash against BYU. Meanwhile, the Cougars hope to silence the Utah crowd and secure an important conference win.

With familiar faces, a passionate fanbase, and major conference implications, this historic Big 12 showdown promises to be one of the most intense matchups in recent rivalry history.