Once upon a time the Utah Utes were 11-0 when as the crown jewel of College Football. Kalani Sitake was just 28 when, in 2005, he was giving a glimpse of what a perfect season looks like as the linebackers coach for the Utes. Fast Forward to 2024, now clad in the royal blue of BYU Cougars, Sitake is emulating the same, being 8-0. The old friends of turned foes meet once again on Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in a Big 12 showdown.

Both teams don’t live too far from each other in Utah. The sibling-like rivalry will be live on ESPN. The Utes (4-4) and No. 9 Cougars will battle the first Holy War matchup in more than three years. In 2021, BYU snapped a nine-game slide against Utah with a 26-17 home victory, its first win over its Beehive State rival since 2009, with, Dave Flemming and Brock Osweiler calling the action. Dave Flemming brings a wealth of experience, having covered a wide range of sports for ESPN. Known for his steady and informed delivery, Flemming can balance in-depth play-by-play with the kind of storytelling that engages viewers, no matter the score. His background in college football and Major League Baseball makes him a familiar and respected voice.

With the regular duo of a seasoned announcer and a former player. Brock Osweiler will be joining Flemming as the analyst. The former round 2 pick in the NFL quarterbacked for the Dolphins and Broncos. Osweiler has quickly established a reputation as a thoughtful and candid commentator with his first-hand experience on the field. He provides unique perspectives on quarterback play and defensive setups. His analysis is rooted in his playing days, and you can expect sharp takes on the quarterback play—a critical factor in this rivalry.

As the quarterbacks will be running and ruining the show, especially for Sitake. His chapter of this story is fittingly set against an old friend and even older foe, with Whittingham and Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Cougars are No. 9 in the Initial CFP rankings, the last of their kind in the Big 12, and have a chance at a top-four seed in the Playoff.

Stats for nerds on how Utah and BYU look before the game

The Cougar-Utes rivalry is with a lot on the line. BYU is coming in hot after a solid win over the UCF Knights, where the only their guy who has been doing it big did his thing. Jake Retzlaff threw for 228 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions on 16-of-24 passing (66.7%) in that game. With 21 tuddys, he is reaching the potential the coaching staff saw in him when they recruited him out of Riverside City College. The undefeated Cougars have a probability of 58.5% to win the game.

While the Utes are coming from a 17-14 loss to the Houston Cougars, Isaac Wilson went 13- for-22 with 171 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions for the Utes against the Cougars, Houston. He will be a key figure for Utah if they have any faith remaining coming into this game. He’s the reason.

“Remember when I said, ‘Let’s do this again?” Sitake to his peer, Utah’s coach Kyle Whittingham. “That was pretty cool to be able to manifest it.” One of college football’s most intense rivalries will be more entangled than any other.