What local college football team gets the most love in Utah?

Utah's college football scene is a blend of fierce rivalry and divided fan loyalty, as highlighted by a recent Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll. The University of Utah and Brigham Young University lead the pack, with 36% of Utah's college football fans backing the Utes and 29% supporting the Cougars. However, the rivalry extends beyond these two schools, with Utah State also pulling in a significant following at 13%.

A third of fans are content with a team outside the state, demonstrating Utah's broader football landscape. Age plays a role in fan allegiance, with Gen Zers favoring BYU and baby boomers leaning towards BYU. BYU students themselves are fiercely loyal to their school, while Utah's fan base skews slightly male. The religious and political leanings of fans add another layer to the complex dynamics.

Mormons are 50-50 in their support between BYU and Utah, while Democrats lean towards Utah and Republicans towards BYU. In terms of political leanings, Utah fans are predominantly older and Republican, while BYU fans skew slightly younger and include a higher proportion of Democrats.