Utah Picks Off Bachmeier Four Times, Beats BYU 28-20 in First Top-10 Holy War

By The Arena Staff

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 7, 2026 — For three straight years the Holy War belonged to BYU. On Saturday, with both teams ranked in the top 10 for the first time in the rivalry's history, Utah took it back the hard way.

Devon Dampier ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more, Utah's defense intercepted Bear Bachmeier four times, and the No. 3 Utes came back from a halftime deficit to beat No. 9 BYU 28-20 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah (9-0, 6-0 Big 12) has now won 15 straight dating to last season, the longest active winning streak in the FBS, according to Yahoo Sports. Its last loss was to BYU in 2025.

It started like a rout. Dampier went 22 yards for a touchdown 75 seconds in, then found Braden Pegan over the middle for a 46-yard score, and Utah led 14-0 before the game was five minutes old.

BYU answered with nerve and a little trickery. A jet sweep, a reverse and a throwback to Bachmeier set up a 35-yard completion to tight end Walker Lyons and the first of two straight BYU field goals. Then Bachmeier hit Legend Glasker in stride behind the Utah secondary for a 75-yard touchdown. Safety Tommy Prassas stripped Pegan, and LJ Martin, back after missing four games with an ankle injury, finished the drive with a 4-yard run. Twenty unanswered points had BYU up 20-14 at the half.

The second half belonged to Dampier and a Utah defense that kept Bachmeier under pressure. Defensive end Lance Holtzclaw picked him off on BYU's first series after halftime. Dampier answered with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Pegan late in the third quarter to retake the lead, then capped the next drive with a 3-yard keeper for a 28-20 cushion with 12:03 to play. Along the way he even caught a 29-yard pass from receiver Creed Whittemore on a fourth-and-1, his second career reception, KSL reported.

BYU still had its chance. Bachmeier led a 13-play, 65-yard drive that ate more than seven minutes, but linebacker Trey Reynolds intercepted him at the goal line. Nate Ritchie came down with one more pick on a desperation throw at the end. Bachmeier, who entered with four interceptions all season, doubled that total in one afternoon.

Dampier finished 14 of 26 for 177 yards and added 87 rushing yards on 20 carries. CBS Sports noted he was responsible for 47 of Utah's 62 plays. Pegan caught five passes for 86 yards and both touchdown throws. Bachmeier threw for 272 yards and a touchdown and ran for 59 yards, and Glasker had seven catches for 118 yards.

The win was Utah's first over BYU since the Utes joined the Big 12, and Yahoo Sports said it leaves Morgan Scalley's team in good position for a College Football Playoff spot. BYU (7-2, 4-2) saw its Big 12 title and playoff hopes take a hit.

Video: Trey Reynolds' goal-line interception, from the Big 12 Conference's official X account.

Sources: Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports and KSL.com.