The Holy War: Utah And BYU Game Ends In Controversy; Mark Harlan Fined $40,000

November 12, 2026

This article was last updated by Aditya Rana on November 12, 2026

College football match between the University of Utah vs. Brigham Young University (BYU), the Holy War, ends in controversy.

The University of Utah Utes and the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars have a long intercollegiate rivalry.

Their annual college football game, often called ‘The Holy War’, is one of the most intense in college sports.

Rooted in both athletic competition and religious differences, the schools’ rivalry began in the 1890s and has evolved, particularly in football and basketball.

The Recent Utah and BYU Game Ended In Controversy

The 2026 football game between the University of Utah and Brigham Young University (BYU) ended with drama and controversy.

Utah led for most of the game, taking a 21-10 advantage into halftime.

Utah’s sophomore quarterback, Brandon Rose, had a promising first-career start, throwing two touchdown passes.

Furthermore, tight end Brant Kuithe added a rushing score, and the defense played strong.

They limited BYU to a single touchdown in the first half.

However, as the second half progressed, BYU fought back.

They scored a field goal in the third quarter to reduce Utah’s lead to 21-13.

Moreover, the Cougars pulled even closer after a touchdown in the fourth quarter, making it 21-19.

However, Utah’s defense seemed ready to stop BYU’s final attack with only 1:56 remaining on the clock.

Retzlaff, BYU’s quarterback, was sacked on a fourth-down play, seemingly ending the game in Utah’s favor.

But in a stunning turn, a holding penalty on Utah cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn kept BYU’s hopes alive by giving them a fresh set of downs.

The penalty extended BYU’s drive and on the next play Retzlaff led BYU down the field and into field goal range, where BYU kicker Will Ferrin hammered a 44-yard field goal, clinching a 22-21 victory for the Cougars.

Utah’s athletic director, , was .

I’ve been an athletic director for 12 years. This game was absolutely stolen from us.

Mark Harlan — Via

Mark Harlan described the penalty call as an unjust decision that “stole” the game from Utah.

Furthermore, he claimed that the Utes had already claimed victory.

Mark Harlan expressed his disappointment with both the outcome and the officiating.

We won this game. Someone else stole it from us. I’m very disappointed. I will talk to the commissioner. This is not fair to our team. I am disgusted by the professionalism of the officiating crew tonight.

Mark Harlan — Via

Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan shares his thoughts after Utah’s close loss to BYU

In response, the Big 12 Conference

They have condemned his public criticism of the match officials.

Furthermore, the Big 12 emphasized the importance of fairness, professionalism, and integrity.

There is a right way and a wrong way to voice concerns. Unfortunately, Mark chose the wrong way. Accordingly, this violation warrants a public reprimand and financial penalty. The Big 12 Conference prioritizes professionalism, integrity, and fairness, and will continue to do so.”

Brett Yormark, Big 12 commissioner — Via

On the other hand, BYU coach Kalani Sitake did not think that the referees made a mistake.

Moreover, he stated that these types of calls were just a “part of the game.”

Whatever decision the refs made, I don’t think they are trying to get it wrong. That’s just part of the game. The refs are part of the game. We were able to capitalize on [the holding] and make a big play. … Nothing was granted to us.

Kalani Sitake — Via

Despite Harlan’s Protest, The Match Officials Seem To Have Made The Right Call

Despite Utah’s athletic director, Mark Harlan’s protest, replays from various angles suggest that the call on Utah’s Vaughn was valid.

Vaughn appeared to make contact with the BYU wide receiver three times during the route.

The third contact happened just before BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was sacked.

This was defensive holding. Best angle. Best view. To say otherwise, means you don’t understand the rules.

The BYU WR clearly creates separation from the defender. And the defender reaches out to grab him.

— 🍍Andy Splatz🍍 (@AndySplatz)

This controversy has further fueled the already intense rivalry between Utah and BYU.

In Case You Didn’t Know

The loss marked Utah’s fifth consecutive defeat and their second straight loss to BYU.

BYU, now undefeated, has taken a commanding lead in the Big 12 standings.

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Vibhab Timsina is a content writer writing about popular culture topics, sports analysis, and keeping you up with recent internet trends. He is an avid sports fanatic and likes to keep up with various sports categories including Soccer, Formula 1, Tennis, Basketball, and more.

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