And to think, BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall insisted he stick around for this.
BYU committed turnovers on its first five possessions and Utah turned them all into touchdowns, turning a Holy War reunion into a Holy Crap blowout barely 10 minutes in.
Cougars quarterback Tanner Mangum was the biggest turnover culprit, losing a fumble that led to Utah’s first score, then tossing two pick sixes and another pick that was returned to the BYU 1. A Squally Canada fumble on BYU’s fifth possession set up Utah’s most challenging scoring drive of the day, a five-play, 39-yard march that made the score 35-0 with 4:38 remaining in the first quarter.
The teams traded punts throughout the second quarter until BYU mounted a 97-yard touchdown drive that finally got them on the scoreboard with 36 seconds left in the half.
As it stands, Utah leads 35-7 despite being out-gained 190-77 and running only 26 plays.
Utah will receive to open the second half.