The Utah Utes are not having a good time in their first season in the Big 12, and that rough beginning was compounded by comments from their athletic director Mark Harlan that have resulted in a $40,000 fine.

Following the Utes’ 22-21 home loss to rival BYU on Saturday night that dropped Utah to 4-5 and 1-5 in the conference, Harlan unloaded on the officiating and the conference itself.

“This game was absolutely stolen from us,” Harlan said. “We were excited about being in the Big 12, but tonight I am not. We won this game. Someone else stole it from us. Very disappointed.”

Those comments led to a fairly swift reaction from the league, which reprimanded Harlan with the fine and a statement Sunday.

“Mark’s comments irresponsibly challenged the professionalism of our officials and the integrity of the Big 12 Conference,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said. “There is a right way and a wrong way to voice concerns. Unfortunately, Mark chose the wrong way. Accordingly, this violation warrants a public reprimand and financial penalty. The Big 12 Conference prioritizes professionalism, integrity, and fairness, and will continue to do so.”

Down 21-19, a holding penalty called on Utah cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn on fourth down negated a sack and gave BYU the ball at its own 19 with about 90 seconds left. The Cougars then drove down the field for a game-winning 44-yard field goal.

With the win, which came before the largest crowd (54,383) ever at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, No. 9 BYU moved to 9-0, 6-0 in the conference, to stay firmly in the mix for a College Football Playoff berth.

“I recognize that there are more appropriate times and avenues to express those concerns, and I accept the consequences of my decision,” Harlan said in a statement. “My comments came after having just left our team locker room where our student-athletes were hurting and upset. The University of Utah is proud to be a member of the Big 12 Conference and we look forward to working with our peers to continue to enhance the league.”

The game was the first between the two as conference mates since 2010 when both teams left the Mountain West Conference. Utah joined the Big 12 along with three other Pac-12 teams this summer. BYU joined the conference in 2023.

–Field Level Media

Utah athletic director Mark Harlan could find himself called into the commissioner’s office this week.

Harlan blasted the officiating late Saturday after the Utes lost to rival BYU, 22-21, on Utah’s home field.

“This game was absolutely stolen from us,” Harlan said. “We were excited about being in the Big 12, but tonight I am not. We won this game. Someone else stole it from us. Very disappointed.”

The Utes, accustomed to being in the mix atop the Pac-12 standings, are struggling in their first year in the Big 12 at 4-5 overall, 1-5 in the conference.

Utah clung to a 21-19 led for most of the fourth quarter after a BYU touchdown at the 12:35 mark of the final frame. And twice late in the quarter, the Utes looked as if they were headed to the win.

While Harlan didn’t specify a call that riled him in particular, it likely occurred in the final two minutes.

With 1:56 left, BYU took possession on its 9-yard line, and quarterback Jake Retzlaff fired three straight incomplete passes. The Cougars called a timeout, and on the ensuing fourth-and-10 play, Retzlaff was sacked for a loss that put the ball on the BYU 1-yard-line with about 90 seconds to go.

But a holding penalty called on Utah cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn gave BYU new life and the ball at its 19.

Retzlaff took advantage, completing passes of 30 yards and 12 yards, and running back Hinckley Ropati’s 14-yard run took the ball to the Utah 25 with 1:07 on the clock.

A false start penalty on BYU sent the ball back to the Utah 30, and the Cougars spent the next three plays positioning the ball and running down the clock to give Will Ferrin a 44-yard field-goal attempt. which he hit with just three seconds left.

“I will talk to the commissioner. This was not fair to our team,” Harlan said. “I’m disgusted by the professionalism of the officiating crew tonight.”

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham was angry with officials on the field but let his boss address the officiating postgame.

“Couldn’t get that last stop when we needed it, unfortunately,” Whittingham said. “That’s kind of been the story for several games.”

BYU coach Kalani Sitake said refereeing comes with the territory.

“Whatever decision the refs make, I don’t think they’re trying to get it wrong, so that’s just part of the game,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “The refs are part of the game. We were able to capitalize on that.”

With the win, which came before the largest crowd (54,383) ever at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, No. 9 BYU moved to 9-0, 6-0 in the conference, to stay firmly in the mix for a College Football Playoff berth.

The game marked the first time the in-state rivals have played as conference opponents since 2010 when the teams left the Mountain West Conference.

–Field Level Media