Why BYU-Utah Fans Feel the Rivalry So Personally

For many Utahns, the annual BYU-Utah football game is about more than the score. University of Utah sports and exercise psychology professor Matt Moore says team loyalty can become part of a person’s sense of identity and belonging, connecting fans to a school, family and community. That can make a team’s win feel like a personal achievement—and a loss feel personal, too.

A Y2 Analytics poll of 786 Utahns found that 37% usually root for BYU and 34% for the University of Utah. When respondents had to choose between the two, 52% picked Utah and 48% chose BYU.

Moore said the rivalry is especially close-knit because fans of both schools may share families, workplaces, neighborhoods and religious communities. A rival may be someone’s sibling or neighbor, rather than a distant stranger, making the competition more meaningful and sometimes more sensitive. He also noted that many people connected to both programs share the Latter-day Saint faith.

Strong emotions can lead fans to make assumptions or behave in ways that conflict with their usual standards, Moore said. Online platforms can intensify that dynamic: anonymity and approval from fellow fans may encourage people to write things they would not say in person. The most provocative posts can also give a misleading impression of entire fan communities, he said, while most fans are not posting hateful material.

Moore’s message was that the rivalry can bring pride and joy, but should not eclipse respect for others. The BYU-Utah game was scheduled for Saturday, November 7.