Your Daily Guide

The stakes are higher than ever for Utah’s biggest football rivalry. The University of Utah Utes and BYU Cougars face off early Saturday morning at Rice-Eccles Stadium, and for the first time in Holy War history, both teams are ranked in the nation’s top 10. But only one will win the game that even non-football lovers care about.

• Beer for breakfast? Saturday’s 10 a.m. kickoff is shaking up tailgate traditions. Salt Lake City’s Beer Bar will open early and serve alcohol right at kickoff thanks to its club license, while most restaurants with liquor licenses have to wait until 10:30 a.m. [Salt Lake Tribune]
• A historic rivalry: Utah has won more games against BYU over the years, and is undefeated this season, but BYU has won the last three Holy War games. The rivalry runs deep in Utah culture; in 1999 a BYU fan tackled a Utah cheerleader (who punched back) during a game. [Utah Athletics, Deseret News]
• Bad behavior all around: The Big 12 fined the University of Central Florida $100,000 after fans chanted “F*** the Mormons” at BYU at a game last month, leading the conference to introduce new penalties for discriminatory conduct during games. [ESPN]
• A call for respect: BYU coach Kalani Sitake and Utah coach Morgan Scalley once worked together under former Utes coach Kyle Whittingham. Scalley is urging fans to keep things civil. Utah even has a formal policy promoting respect for the Ute name as part of its agreement with the Ute Indian Tribe. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧, University of Utah]

🥊 Bonus game: BYU or Utah? Guess where Utah business founders went to college.

Curtis Criticizes Policies He Backed

ICYMI, Utah Sen. John Curtis is on Substack, and he’s saying that Republicans have themselves to blame for midterm losses, pointing to the Iran War, rising national debt, and Trump’s tariffs. But Curtis has voted in support of several of those same policies. [Axios Salt Lake City]

Utah Democratic Senator Refuses to Resign

Utah Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Riebe says she won’t resign, despite calls from some members of her own party to step down following an investigation into alleged workplace discrimination and harassment. Riebe, who was removed from the Senate Minority Caucus, disputes the allegations and says she hasn’t been allowed to see the investigation report. [FOX 13]

Only 1 Bar in Provo

Provo won’t be getting a second stand-alone bar anytime soon after the City Council narrowly rejected a proposal for an upscale sports bar downtown. Council members said they’d rather have a restaurant in the old pharmacy building. [Salt Lake Tribune]