Eye of the Beholder

Which is the better football program, Utah or BYU?
Utah. At the moment.
Overall?
Depends on what you’re using as a reference point.
BYU has won six conference championships since 1995, Utah five. Overall, Utah has won 26 conference titles, BYU 23.
BYU didn’t win a conference title of any kind until 1965, but from 1974-1985 it won 11 of 12.
At the same time, Utah has been far more successful in the post-season. Utah is 11-3 in bowl games, including eight straight. BYU is 9-16-1 in bowl games and is 2-5 since 1998.
Utah dominated the Cougars until the mid-1970s, then barely won a game against the Cougars for the next 20 years.
BYU won a national championship in 1984, Utah has won two BCS bowl games in the new millennium.
Deciding which is the better program, then, depends on where you came in. And what criteria you’re using. Right now Utah is on a roll, but the Cougars won the previous two conference championships.
The good news: This debate isn’t going to go away any time soon.