The Utah Utes face off against BYU Cougars this week in what could be the greatest 'Holy War' rivalry game to date.

This will mark the first time in history of the Beehive State contest that both teams are ranked in the top 10 nationally. BYU enters this week as the No. 7 team in the country, while Utah has reached the No. 3 ranking for the first time in two decades. 

The 'Holy War' rivalry is one of the strongest in college football. The winner is usually fighting for bragging rights that matter. However, this season there is something much more significant riding on the game’s outcome. BYU lost two weeks ago to a Central Florida team that is now in the bottom half of the Big 12 conference. Utah remains undefeated through eight weeks.

A few weeks ago, there was a real possibility of a Holy War Big 12 title game with both teams undefeated. BYU failed to remain unbeaten and now needs to create separation from Texas Tech. If Utah can win the Holy War, it will give BYU a second loss. Further cementing Utah’s claim as the top team in the conference. If BYU wins, there will be a one-loss logjam at the top.

The Holy War rivalry is over 130 years old and has countless big moments. Looking at the last 50 years, Utah has seven names to celebrate spanning five decades. While this might not be a list of the greatest Utes of all time, it is the first part of a list of the best Holy War performers of the last 50 years.

Steve Odom is the one name that towers above the others in the 1970s. In his three seasons between 1971-1973, Odom amassed 1,440 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns. As a runner, he also contributed another 185 yards on 30 carries (6.2 yards per attempt) and another touchdown.

In 1972, Utah’s primary rival was still considered to be Utah State. Utah held a significant lead over BYU of 38-5-4 heading into the 1972 clash. Utah was 5-4 heading into the November 18th matchup and were eyeing their first WAC title. The game included 14 fumbles and Utah threw four interceptions. Odom only finished with 22 combined yards but did have a punt returned for a touchdown called back. 1972 is widely believed to be the game that made the BYU-Utah game into the rivalry it is now.

Scott Mitchell started at quarterback for the Utes from 1987-1989. For his career, he completed 57% of his passes for 8.981 yards with 69 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. However, his 1988 season was his high point. He completed 61% of his passes for 4,322 yards and 29 touchdowns. Mitchell led all WAC players in those three categories that season.

On November 19, 1988, Mitchell would have a banner day in the Holy War. He passed for 384 yards and one passing touchdown. The Utah offense put up 581 yards of total offense. The Utes also won that game 57-28. The 1988 Holy War was the 4th most lopsided win in the rivalry’s history. It was second only to 1922 for lopsided Utah wins when they defeated BYU 49-0.

McCoy has two very noteworthy Holy War performances. In 1993 and 1994, McCoy led the Utes to a pair of 34-31 wins over BYU. 1993 was his biggest statistical performance, setting a single-game rivalry record with 434 yards that remains unbroken today. In 1994, McCoy engineered a fourth-quarter comeback that was capped off by a go-ahead 20-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Brown with only 56 seconds remaining in the game. Luther Elliss would factor heavily in those last 56 seconds.

Luther Elliss makes this list for the exact same two Holy War games. In 1993, Elliss anchored an impressive Utah defensive front seven and registered 1.5 sacks in Utah’s upset win that season. In 1994, shortly after McCoy hit Brown for the go-ahead score, Elliss recovered a fumble caused by Bronzell Miller to end BYU’s attempted last-minute drive.

No. 3 Utah hosts No. 7 BYU at Noon ET and will broadcast on ABC.