BYU Cougars

With the big rivalry game, BYU basketball and high school state tournament action all kicking off this weekend, several local athletes will be competing in the next few days. The Daily Herald will have live blogging from reporters updating from several games.

After easily taking the first two games, the BYU Cougars needed a nail-biter of a fifth game to beat the No. 15 Colorado State Rams 25-19, 25-19, 15-25, 23-25, 22-20 on Thursday at the Smith Fieldhouse.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has made a bit of a competition out of trying to rattle kicker Louie Sakoda during practice this season.

Add this to the list of indignities Utah State football fans have had to suffer: rooting for BYU.

During Tuesday's weekly Mountain West Conference teleconference, several coaches in the league offered their insights into Saturday's BYU-Utah game, which has Bowl Championship Series and conference title implications.

Aside from bragging rights and conference championship implications, bowl destinations are also riding on Saturday's rivalry showdown.

With a BCS bowl and an MWC title on the line in today's game between No. 8 Utah and No. 16 BYU, there's everything to gain - and lose. So will it be . .

BYU (10-1, 6-1)     at Utah (11-0, 7-0)     Today: 4 p.m., Rice-Eccles Stadium     TV: The Mtn.     Radio: 700 AM, 1160 AM, 102.

PROVO - Two long streaks collided at the Marriott Center on Thursday night in something called the Basketball Travelers Invitational.     The resulting mess surprised no one, but the only player to score in double figures, for either side, was anything but pleased with the outcome.

Standing in the Cougars’ way of reaching their season-long goals is rival Utah, ranked No. 7 in the country. The Cougars know that there will be a lot on the line when they step out onto the field at Rice Eccles Stadium this Saturday, and on the other side of the field the Utes of Utah also have that realization.

"I think it'll be a great game," said linebacker L.T. Filiaga of this weekend's match-up between BYU and Utah. "From what I've seen, I think Utah will probably win it, but I'll be cheering for both. It's a big game and if Utah can pull it off I definitely think they deserve to be in a top BCS bowl." Filiaga believes he'd start early at either program and he may attend the game in Salt Lake City.

Gilroy (Calif.) quarterback Jamie Jensen has been one of the top passers in the West the last two years and he's seen here during his senior season, where he's approaching the 3,000 yard mark again...

The biggest game of the season is finally here.

The Daily Universe staff presents a video, audio slideshow, podcast an interactive timeline and depth chart from the 2008 rivalry football game.

Cougars prep for rivalry showdown