BYU Pulls Off Stunning Comeback: Social Media Erupts After Rivalry Win

A thrilling recap of BYU's comeback victory against Utah, highlighting the dramatic moments, social media reactions, and implications for the season ahead.

BYU kicker Will Ferrin hits the game-winning field goal to knock off rival Utah

On a wild night in Rice Eccles Stadium, the BYU offense drove the length of the field to setup a game-winning field goal in the closing seconds. A Will Ferrin field goal gave BYU its first win in Salt Lake since 2006. At halftime, BYU trailed Utah 21-10, making it the largest comeback of the Kalani Sitake era.

As you might expect from a rivalry game that involved controversial calls, last-second drama, and College Football Playoff implications, social media was buzzing after BYU’s win over Utah.

The Referees ‘Stole’ the Win from Utah

In an unprecedented rant following the game, Utah’s director of athletics claimed the referees “stole” the win from Utah. Understandably, there was a lot of chatter about the controversial holding penalty that extended BYU’s game-winning drive. Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham was seen yelling at the referees after the game.

For those Big 12 fans watching the BYU-Utah rivalry game for the first time, the drama did not disappoint. The game captured the attention of national analysts from networks like NBC, Yahoo Sports, and ESPN.

BYU fans celebrating the victory Fans celebrate in the streets after a thrilling victory.

Those who stayed up late got to witness “one of the craziest football games you will ever see,” according to one post. ESPN’s broadcast captured a classic moment of BYU wide receiver Jojo Phillips doing the upside down “U” to the stunned Utah fans in the north end zone. Viewers also saw the iconic image of four Utah students, their expressions likely destined for meme status for years to come.

After the thrilling win, the streets of Provo were filled with eager fans celebrating the victory. BYU cornerback Tre Alexander even wore a shirt that made a jab at former Utah QB Cam Rising’s comments from Big 12 media day. Countless former BYU players took to social media to revel in the victory, including the beloved Kyle Van Noy.

Other national accounts like Barstool Sports also jumped into the conversation. BYU special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga shared a lighthearted moment on “X” about the game-winning field goal, revealing that he asked kicker Will Ferrin where he wanted the ball to be placed before kicking. Ferrin’s confident reply? “It doesn’t matter where, it’s going in.”

Even Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson chimed in on the festivities. Utah Governor Spencer Cox was present at the game and took the opportunity to take a jab at the College Football Playoff committee during the postgame celebrations.

With this dramatic victory, BYU has improved to 9-0 and 6-0 in conference play, putting them in a strong position as they push for a spot in the conference championship game. The Cougars only need to secure two wins in their final three games to seal the deal.

As the dust settles on this remarkable game, the influence of social media has never been more apparent, echoing the sentiments of the fans who are passionate about college football.