Provo • Urban Meyer might be done coaching in the BYU-Utah rivalry, but he isn’t done watching it.
Back in town for “Big Noon Kickoff” this week, the former Utah coach is telling his new colleagues about what the rivalry is like.
“It’s nasty,” former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn said Meyer told him. “We were talking in the [production] meeting about, like, ‘Hey, use the word respect.’ And he’s like, ‘No, the fans are nasty toward each other.’ And he’s coached at Ohio State with Michigan.”
Meyer didn’t back off that stance either.
“It’s an absolute street fight,” Meyer said. “They’re kind of feeling it, because you can feel it while you’re here.”
Meyer added one disappointment about this year’s game. He wishes it had come during the final week of the season instead of mid-October.
“I was so crushed when they took it from the last game of the season,” Meyer said. “This game should be played on Thanksgiving. It should be. But there are a lot of things moving nowadays.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brady Quinn talks to media on the set of Big Noon Kickoff at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.
Tim Tebow comparison for Bear Bachmeier?
Quinn has been around some great quarterbacks in his career. His early thoughts on BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier?
“He’s gritty. His play-making ability kind of reminds me of a right-handed Tim Tebow a little bit,” Quinn said. “I might get way too ahead of ourselves. But he’s got that sort of moxie about him.”
Bachmeier ran the ball 22 times for BYU to beat Arizona in double overtime last week. He had two rushing touchdowns to tie and win the game.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) looks downfield, in Big-12 football action between the BYU Cougars the West Virginia Mountaineers at Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, on, in Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.
“It’s really tough playing as a true freshman,” Quinn said. “I went through that. You’re trying to manage class and develop chemistry with the guys you’re throwing to. And then what you’re seeing from the defense and all that. And I think he’s done a really admirable job.”
Dave Portnoy on Swig’s dirty sodas
Barstool founder Dave Portnoy is also along for the ride in Provo for “Big Noon Kickoff.” He stopped by Swig and ... wasn’t much of a fan.
“There is a 20-minute line to get this thing,” Portnoy said in one of several videos he posted on social media. “It says Coke with a little coconut in it. And I think that is what it is. But it tastes just like a Coke. I think I did Swig totally wrong. ... A little disappointed in Swig if we are being honest.”
One place he did like, however, was BYU’s creamery.
“Absolute mob scene to get ice cream at 1 p.m. on a Friday,” Portnoy said. “What we are learning is you can’t swear, drink, no coffee, but they will go in on the sweets and the candy. ... This is spectacular ice cream.”
He finished, “Provo is doing it for me. I don’t need to drink. I’ll eat.”