The Holy War is Heating Up

As if we didn’t get enough drama from the league’s best rivalry in its first year in the Big 12 (thank you, Mark Harlan), both fan bases—and Utah beat reporters—put on a show this week on Twitter.

It started with KSL’s Steve Bartle and UteNation.com’s Alex Markham insinuating that BYU tampered with three Utah players while attempting to coax them into the transfer portal:

Now, I have no inside info to prove or disprove any of it. And I’m not here to question Steve or Alex—honestly, that’s not even the point.

Because my first reaction was simple:

Yeah… that tracks.

Is tampering against the rules? Technically, yes.

Is everyone doing it? Also yes. 

The NCAA is basically just a scarecrow at this point. It isn’t stopping anybody.

Just this week, On3’s Pete Nakos reported that Tennessee courted two Big 12 quarterbacks to replace Nico Iamaleava. Neither was in the portal. So yeah…the Vols tampered. And nobody batted an eye.

Why? Because it’s standard operating procedure now. 

Welcome to the show.

“It’s a mess,” UCF coach Scott Frost said this week. “It’s constant negotiation. It’s a bidding war for every single player—whether they’re in the portal or not.”

That’s the reality. Tampering is happening everywhere, constantly.

Raging against BYU for tampering in 2025 is like getting mad at someone going 72 in a 65. Sure, it’s technically illegal, but everyone does it, and nobody’s calling the cops.

Now, I get that this goes deeper than just breaking a rule.

Judging by some of my Twitter mentions, there’s clear frustration among Utah fans who see BYU as self-righteous about following the rules. When there’s even a hint of hypocrisy, they’re ready to pounce.

And honestly? I get it. 

Any fan base would be upset about their archrival trying to poach players. And yeah, I’m sure you can find some BYU fans who bring that self-righteous energy.

But it’s easy to see the deeper roots of the Utes’ frustration. 

It’s been a brutal first year in the Big 12 for a school that came in thumbing its nose at the league—especially BYU.

Instead of getting a Big Ten invite, Utah missed a bowl game. They lost at home to BYU in devastating fashion, and AD Mark Harlan held an embarrassing post-game press conference. Their men’s basketball team finished below .500 and 11th in the Big 12. 

Meanwhile, BYU won 11 games, started 9-0, cracked the top 10, made the Sweet Sixteen in basketball, and signed the No. 1 high school player in the country. They’ve also made it crystal clear they have excellent NIL support.

How would you feel if you were a Utah fan?

It doesn’t take a therapist and a $150 co-pay to figure out what’s going on here.

The Utes are lashing out because the tables have turned, and it’s uncomfortable.

Here’s my advice to Utah: focus on what you can control.

The Utes crushed it in the portal. Devon Dampier has serious star potential. If Utah’s defense looks anything like what we’re used to, they’ll be a legit contender for a Big 12 title.

And I love the Alex Jensen hire. No shame in taking a page from BYU’s Kevin Young playbook. The Utes will be better for it.

But launching a crusade over tampering in 2025? It’s not a good look, and it only draws more attention to how tough the last year has been in Salt Lake. 

Let it go.

And go ahead—slam the gas and cruise at 72 like the rest of us.

What You Need to Know

• Texas Tech continues to light up the transfer portal. The Red Raiders added Cash Cleveland, a former Colorado center and Freshman All-American. It further entrenches Tech’s portal class as the number one class in the country. 

• So, how much is Texas Tech spending on its football roster? I guarantee it’s way more than you think it is. CBS Sports has the answer. The Red Raiders’ basketball spend isn’t small, either, according to Matt Norlander.

• Get ready for one of the most ridiculous ideas you’ve ever heard: ESPN’s Heather Dinich reports that TV ratings could become a factor in how College Football Playoff bids are decided in the future. I may expand upon this in my next newsletter because it is an absolutely disastrous idea, but Josh Pate says it’s all a negotiating tactic. 

• A California judge says she won’t approve the landmark House Settlement unless changes are made to the new roster limits. Some Big 12 schools just cut players this week to reach the 105-player limit, but it may have been in vain. The judge says they have to find a way to grandfather in the roster limits.

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