DICKSON: I completely understand the frustration. I mean, the Utes had the game locked up. Put yourself in their shoes. I imagine BYU fans would be screaming about the holding call and conspiracy theories, too, if you reversed the roles. Fans losing their minds? I’ve seen that many times before.

As for Harlan, I would expect more from a man in a position of authority. He threw a temper tantrum and it cost him $40,000 (with the fine from the Big 12) but I think he lost a lot more in credibility. Ute Nation was never happy to be in the Big 12 in the first place and the prevailing attitude (enforced by the media picking Utah to win the conference title in football) was that they would run the league.

The quote from the movie “Remember the Titans” comes to mind: “Attitude reflects leadership.” There’s a problem up on the Hill and it isn’t just that they just lost a football game to BYU.

LLOYD: Oh, emotions. They make life worth living but, man, they get out of control sometimes.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

That’s certainly what happened to Harlan, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, the fan who is facing charges for throwing a water bottle onto the field and hitting a BYU cheer coach, and thousands of others.

Football is a game of emotions, yes, but it is also a game of tempering those emotions with rationality. When the frustrations of a long losing streak and a late night get mixed, I’m not surprised the people got carried away.

But that in no way excuses them from facing the consequences.

In some ways, I’ve been more disappointed by Utah’s reaction in the days following than I was immediately after the game. Harlan’s official response to the Big 12 levying a $40,000 fine was accepting but not really apologetic.

Even worse, I’ve yet to see the Utah administration condemn or permanently ban those who threw objects onto the field, endangering players, coaches, security staff and observers. That type of behavior anywhere should not be tolerated.

2. So was it holding on Utah or what?

LLOYD: Stewart Mandel of the Athletic posted on his X account that after he saw the best angle (from just behind the Utah sideline) that the holding call was “indisputable.”

I think any objective analysis would indicate that Utah defensive back Zemaiah Vaughn grabbed BYU’s primary read, Cougar freshman wide receiver Jojo Phillips, and illegally prevented him from running his route. The official charged with enforcing that rule immediately made the call.

The only other arguments that I’ve seen have been either that referees shouldn’t ever make that call at that point of the game or that it hadn’t been called previously so therefore it shouldn’t be flagged then.

My response to the first is that 100% disagree. Officials are there to enforce the rules of the game to the best of their ability, regardless of circumstances. They won’t see everything but should always make the calls that they see.

As for the second assertion, if you can show me at least two examples of similar jersey grabs made by defensive backs on the side of the field of that field judge who made the fourth-and-10 call, then I’ll look at it differently. I haven’t seen any plays that fit that criteria yet but only then will I even be willing to consider that second point could have any possible validity.

DICKSON: Anyone with a social media account has seen plenty of video examples and documented proof that it was a legit call. Terry McAulie, a 20-year NFL veteran as a referee in the NFL and now a consultant for television, has indicated it was the most obvious hold in the whole game after watching the all-22 player game video.

I can’t tell you how many times I saw a play from the press box and felt like it was right (or wrong), but then upon seeing the replay, realized the refs got it right. It’s hard to admit when you’re wrong. Seems like Utah fans are doubling down even when all the evidence points otherwise.

And blaming the officials removes any responsibility for the Utes, which where shut out in the second half and still could have stopped the Cougars from getting into field goal range.

3. What was the key to BYU’s win at Rice-Eccles Stadium?

DICKSON: BYU is a team with unwavering belief. The fact of the matter is it was probably the worst first half the team has played all season. Giving up 21 points in the second quarter was a problem, as was execution and efficiency on offense. Kalani Sitake said there was no panic in the locker room being down 21-10 at halftime.

The defense stepped up big time in the second half, holding Utah to 79 total yards and no points. The offense had two really clutch drives, a 95-yarder for a TD and the drive from its own 9-yard line in the final two minutes to set up the game-winning field goal.

So you can point to whatever statistic you want, but this team believes it will win ever game and so far that’s exactly what happened. That being said, I agree with Sitake: The Cougars haven’t played their best ball yet. This late in the season, that should be the case. So if there is a worry, it’s that.

LLOYD: Three words: Resiliency, resiliency and resiliency.

Faced with its first true hostile environment and a fired-up rival with nothing to lose, the Cougars pretty much laid an egg on offense and defense for most of the first 40 minutes. BYU struggled to get plays in, had too many penalties, looked lost at times on defense and failed to execute. If not for the Cougar special teams, the hole would’ve been bigger than it was.

With all that pressure, there have been times we’ve seen BYU teams wilt. But not this one.

Instead of panicking, the Cougars got down to business on defense, getting stops and providing more opportunities for the BYU offense.

And even though things like the two-point conversion still didn’t go their way, the Cougars always bounced back and kept making plays. That’s the hallmark of a team that is mentally tough, another attribute that national metrics fail miserably to quantify.

4. Did the College Football Playoff Committee get the rankings right this week?

DICKSON: I’ve always said rankings of any kind are dumb because one week, we are told, “This is the Top 25” or whatever. Then games are played and the next poll we’re told, “Forget about last week. THIS is the Top 25.” In addition, the bias toward legacy power conference programs is ridiculous beyond reason, but it is what it is.

Strength of schedule and good wins sometimes don’t matter as much as what conference you play in and good losses. College football is kind of crazy, right?

At this point, everything is just speculation but the most important aspect of all of this is that BYU really controls its own destiny. As a member of a lesser conference or as an independent, the Cougars could have won all their games and STILL be not given access. Now, as a member of the Big 12, BYU can just keep winning and reach its goals. That’ll be a huge challenge and a loss or two will make a playoff berth dicey.

LLOYD: The CFP committee can get rankings right!? Seriously?

I get that it’s a tough job but they do seem to remind us every week that they are just flawed humans like the rest of us. I feel bad for committee chair Warde Manuel for having to try to logically justify emotional decisions in the post-rankings release press conference every week.

That’s even more clearly the case this season where every team has had clear flaws.

No. 1 Oregon only beat FCS Idaho (who is now 7-3) 24-14 and had its two marquee wins come at home. No. 2 Ohio State’s one marquee win was at home. And that’s still better than No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Penn State and No. 5 Indiana, none of which really have a marquee win. Most of the teams with marquee wins in the SEC, however, also have at least two losses.

Maybe things will be clarified in the next few weeks … or maybe chaos will make the committee’s job even more of a headache.

5. Moving on, what are your thoughts on Saturday’s BYU-Kansas matchup?

LLOYD: In many ways, this contest is exactly what the Cougars need after the drama of last week’s win at Utah. This is a Jayhawk squad that out-muscled BYU in Lawrence in 2023 and most of the Cougars haven’t forgotten.

No, Kansas hasn’t had the season it wanted to have but you can guarantee it would love to spoil BYU’s unbeaten season almost as much as the Utes did. The Jayhawks are going to come in with a lot of energy and the Cougars better be ready.

But if BYU isn’t ready, the Cougars don’t deserve to be considered an elite team. This isn’t a dominating Kansas team and BYU is at home. This is a chance for the Cougars to show — once again — that they can handle any challenge.

DICKSON: Every week is another big challenge in this league, and Saturday the Cougars face a red-hot Kansas team that just took it to Iowa State.

The Jayhawks are a very good offensive club. Jalon Daniels is a big, strong and mobile quarterback with plenty of options to choose from, including talented running back Devin Neal.

Whatever was ailing Kansas during their five-game losing streak has appeared to have been worked out. Five of Jayhawks six losses have been by single digits. The Cougars have to be wary of a post-rivalry hangover.

Saturday will be cold and wet but I suspect that won’t keep BYU fans from filling LES for another late-night party.