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The Utah-BYU rivalry is officially on the books through 2022, Utah athletics announced on Thursday morning.
The Utes will visit Provo's LaVell Edwards Stadium on Sept. 11, 2021, and the Cougars will return the trip on Sept. 3, 2022 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The extension solidifies the future of one of the longest tenured in-state rivalries in college sports for the next six seasons. The series took a two-year hiatus from regular season play before resuming in September (the teams also played in last year's Las Vegas Bowl).
Utah athletic director Chris Hill said the tentative dates have been set for some time — it was just a matter of signing contracts and announcing them.
"It's of great interest throughout the state for both schools to have this game on the schedule," Hill said. "There was really nothing complicated that happened."
Utah has won the last six meetings in the series, which has been played since 1896 (although BYU does not recognize its first six games as Brigham Young Academy). While both sides have talked about concern for the nature of the rivalry — which has been described at various times as increasingly "toxic" — this season seemed to bring about more good will between football programs after former Utah assistant Kalani Sitake was hired to lead BYU. Sitake and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham have a close relationship.
BYU now is scheduled to play six Pac-12 opponents (seven games overall) during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, including Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, USC and Stanford in addition to Utah.
For Utah, the game brings into focus another issue with scheduling: The program doesn't have a Power 5 opponent in its non-conference slate until a game at Baylor in 2023. Utah has series scheduled with San Jose State, Northern Illinois and San Diego State in future seasons, as well as one-game contracts with FCS teams Weber State, North Dakota and Idaho State in coming years.
Hill said the Utes will likely look at scheduling more "A" games — games against Power 5 opponents — in coming seasons.
"We may have to take a look at increasing the number of games in the A category," Hill said. "It looks like the landscape is saying play more competitive games that are Power 5s against Power 5s."
Utah only has BYU scheduled in 2020 so far, and only Baylor for 2023 and beyond. All other nonconference schedules are set for now through 2022. Hill said the Utes will likely stand pat with their scheduled games for now.
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Future BYU-Utah games
• Sept. 9, 2017, Provo
• Nov. 24, 2018, Salt Lake City
• Aug. 29, 30 or 31, 2019, Provo
• Sept. 3, 4 or 5, 2020, Salt Lake City
• Sept. 11, 2021, Provo
• Sept. 3, 2022, Salt Lake City