BYU vs Utah StateOld Wagon Wheel
A pioneer-era wagon wheel BYU and Utah State played for from 1948 until BYU joined the Big 12.
Updated · BettorEdge
BYU and Utah State are not on each other's schedule right now. The trophy stays with BYU until they meet again. BYU canceled the 2023-2026 games after joining the Big 12, and no game is scheduled through 2035.
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Start a pick'em contestHow the Old Wagon Wheel came to be
BYU and Utah State had been playing football since 1922 before the wheel entered the rivalry in 1948.
The Blue Key fraternities at the two schools introduced the wheel as the winner's prize, a nod to the covered wagons of Utah's pioneer settlers.
Utah State won the first wheel game, 20-7, and the Aggies claimed 18 of the first 27 games played for it.
For roughly three decades students at the losing school tried to steal the wheel back, a prank tradition that sometimes caused it to go missing for long stretches.
The series stopped after 2022 when BYU's move to the Big 12 voided the scheduled 2023-2026 games.
The trophy itself. A heavy 19th-century wooden wagon wheel, a pioneer-era relic covered with small metal plaques marking each game's winner. It is dense enough that it takes several people to lift.
Old Wagon Wheel history
- 1922
BYU and Utah State (then Utah Agricultural College) begin playing.
- 1948
Old Wagon Wheel introduced; Utah State wins 20-7.
- 1977
BYU wins 65-6, the largest margin in the series.
- 1983
BYU starts a 10-game winning streak (1983-1992).
- 2019
BYU wins 42-14 in Logan and takes the wheel back to Provo.
- 2022
In February BYU sends notice canceling the 2023-2026 games; on September 29 BYU wins 38-26 in Provo in the last meeting to date.
Recent results
| Season | Result | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | BYU Cougars 38, Utah State Aggies 26 | LaVell Edwards Stadium |
| 2021 | BYU Cougars 34, Utah State Aggies 20 | Maverik Stadium |
Old Wagon Wheel facts worth knowing
Since 1981 the game has usually been played on the first Friday of October, the weekend of the LDS Church's General Conference.
The cancellation letter from BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe to Utah State's John Hartwell was sent on Valentine's Day 2022, and no damages were owed by either side.
The canceled games were set for Sept. 16, 2023 (Logan), Oct. 4, 2024 (Provo), Oct. 3, 2025 (Logan) and Oct. 2, 2026 (Provo).
When BYU has it, the wheel has been displayed in the lobby of the football offices in the Student Athlete Building in Provo.
Utah State dominated the early wheel years, but BYU has won most meetings since the 1980s.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Old Wagon Wheel?+
The Old Wagon Wheel is the trophy BYU and Utah State play for in college football, first awarded in 1948. A heavy 19th-century wooden wagon wheel, a pioneer-era relic covered with small metal plaques marking each game's winner. It is dense enough that it takes several people to lift.
How did the Old Wagon Wheel come to be?+
BYU and Utah State had been playing football since 1922 before the wheel entered the rivalry in 1948.
Who has the Old Wagon Wheel right now?+
BYU holds the Old Wagon Wheel after winning the 2022 game, BYU 38, Utah State 26. The live block on this page updates as soon as the next meeting is played.
Who leads the BYU-Utah State series?+
BYU leads the all-time series 51-37-3 as of the 2022 game. In games played for the Old Wagon Wheel since 1948, BYU leads 43-25.
When is the next Old Wagon Wheel game?+
No BYU-Utah State game is on ESPN's schedule right now. Conference schedules rotate, so check back as the next season's slate is released.
Where can I bet on the Old Wagon Wheel game?+
You can bet BYU vs Utah State on BettorEdge, a peer-to-peer marketplace where you trade with other bettors rather than a sportsbook, so the price carries no built-in house vig. You can also run a free pick'em contest for the game with your group.
More college football
Records and the current holder are as of the 2022 game; the next-game block and recent results update from ESPN.Sources: en.wikipedia.org, byucougars.com, ksl.com, deseret.com.
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