The college football rivalry between Utah and BYU is more than just sports. It is also religion.
Both schools have deep-rooted ties to the Mormon faith.
As a result, Utes kicker Dillon Curtis was forced to address the backlash from last Saturday’s college football game in Provo. He did not stop his warm-up during the pregame prayer.
Utah is the flagship but BYU is more religious.
Brigham Young, the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, actually founded both the University of Utah and Brigham Young University. The former is run by the state as the flagship public school. The latter is run by the Church as a private school.
Utah is open to anyone of all religions with approximately 36% of the student population identifying as LDS. BYU is also open to all religions, but more than 98% of the student population identifies with the Mormon faith. It was built by Young to provide the children of the Latter-day Saints a place to “receive a good education unmixed with the pernicious atheistic influences that are found in so many of the higher schools of the country.”
You get the idea.
Both schools have ties to religion. BYU is a lot more strict to faith than Utah.
Thus, the rivalry between them is best known as ‘The Holy War.’
Dillon Curtis issued an apology.
The Cougars start every home football game with a prayer for sportsmanship, health and honor. For example:
All those in attendance at LaVell Edwards Stadium are asked to bow their heads during the invocation or, at the very least, pause for prayer. Most people do so.
However, Utes kicker Dillon Curtis continued to warm up for the game during the prayer. He did not stop.
BYU fans were furious with the disrespect.
The backlash ultimately got so loud that Curtis finally decided to release a statement. It took him more than three days to respond via Notes App because he was not initially sure if he wanted to do so.
“I’ve been debating for a few days whether I make a comment on me kicking during the prayer, and at first I decided to just let it blow over but I realized that isn’t the right thing to do. I just wanted to apologize to anyone I offended I really didn’t mean anything negative by it and especially didn’t have harsh intentions, I was just warming up when my coaches told me to warm up”
And that’s that.
Dillon Curtis probably should’ve paused his warm-up for about 60 seconds during the prayer. However, he only had so many minutes to get warmed up and had to get ready for the game.
Karma ultimately came back to get him on an onside kick attempt during the fourth quarter anyway. Robert Griffin III referred to his kick as “cheeks.”
Utah attempts an onside kick but hits their own player and it'll be BYU ball pic.twitter.com/L145KKF4fM
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 19, 2025
Utah lost to BYU by three.