Meanwhile, tensions escalated in the annual Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn, heated arguments broke out between North Carolina and North Carolina State, and the fight between Florida and Florida State also included flag throwing.

Which leads us to another major conflict – wait, Houston and BYU?

Houston has been participating in the Big 12 Conference for two years. BYU, the school founded by Brigham Young and sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also joined the Big 12 in 2023. The two schools have barely met on the football field (Saturday’s contest was their third all-time). the others took place in 2013 and 2020). Although Houston and BYU share a nickname, their game Saturday in Provo, Utah, wasn’t exactly part of a “controversial week.”

Nevertheless, BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff ran into the end zone with 2:52 left in the fourth quarter and gave his team a 30-18 lead. The touchdown effectively ended the contest, bringing the BYU Cougars to 10-2. But when a BYU player tried to pick up a Houston defender from the prone quarterback, things escalated.

Houston would fall to 4-8 for the second straight season, ending a poor season under the leadership of new head coach Willie Fritz. The Cougars had difficulty adjusting to the Big 12 after several successful years in the American Athletic Conference.