Utah head coach Morgan Scalley addressed the religious dimensions of the Utah-BYU rivalry ahead of Saturday's top-ten matchup, telling reporters "Does God care who wins this game? No," according to the Deseret News. The comment came during Scalley's weekly press conference as both programs prepare for the Holy War.

The rivalry carries religious overtones given BYU's sponsorship by the LDS Church and Utah's history as a secular state university in a heavily Mormon state. Scalley, who is Latter-day Saint himself, appeared to be deflecting questions about divine favor in the contest between the third-ranked Utes and seventh-ranked Cougars.