Unless tonight's BYU-Utah State football game ends in a tie, a tie will be broken.
It's not as confusing as it sounds. Strange as it seems to those who are used to years of Cougar domination, these teams are deadlocked at 32-32-3 over their 67-game history.The fact that BYU (1-3) has won the last nine is what makes that number intriguing. It's easy to forget that for the first part of this rivalry, the Aggies (1-3) had a big advantage. Just 18 years ago, Utah State held a 30-17-3 lead.
A few other historical facts:
- Over the past eight years, the average score when these teams meet is BYU 42, USU 9. No game in that stretch has been decided by less than three touchdowns.
- Two of the Cougars' last three shutouts were against the Aggies, in 1986 and 1985.
- Last year, the Y. was ahead 38-0 before giving up two late fourth-quarter scores to make the final score 38-10.
- Utah State hasn't won in Provo since 1978.
All that probably will mean zip to the players tonight, however; they have far weightier issues on their minds. The Cougars, in particular, are much more concerned with halting a three-game losing skid than with establishing historical bragging rights over their upstate rivals.
The Aggies, meanwhile, finally got on the winning track last week against New Mexico State, and they are no doubt loathe to see the Cougars pound them the way they've done in recent years.
Both teams will start quarterbacks of limited experience. BYU will go with Ryan Hancock, who started the season as third-string but moved up after injuries to John Walsh and Steve Clements. Hancock, a star on the Cougar baseball team, threw well in long relief against Hawaii last week.
Utah State will go with Anthony Calvillo, who wasn't listed on the two-deep chart in the Aggie media guide. A transfer from Mount San Antonio JC in Walnut, Calif., Calvillo was impressive last week in his first start for the Ags.
The game will not be televised live locally. It will be replayed by Channel 5 at 10:30 p.m.