VILLAIN: Is Utah the Big 12's MOST HATED School, or Does BYU Just Paint Utes as Expansion Bad Guy?

there's definitely a noticeable level of animosity and negative sentiment directed towards the Utes from a significant portion of the conference's supporters online. This stems from a combination of factors:

1. Perceived Arrogance and Disdain for the Big 12:

"Truck Stop Conference" Comments: Following the Pac-12's demise and Utah's eventual move to the Big 12, some Utah fans (and even comments attributed to their athletic director) were perceived as looking down on the conference, even referring to it derisively as a "truck stop conference." This rubbed many Big 12 fans the wrong way, as they felt Utah was acting entitled despite needing a new home after their own conference collapsed.
Belief in Being "Too Good": A segment of Utah's fanbase expressed the belief that the Utes were a program destined for a "better" conference, like the Big Ten, and viewed the Big 12 as a step down. This superiority complex didn't sit well with fans of established Big 12 programs who have seen their own share of success.
Initial Reluctance: The widely reported initial reluctance of Utah's leadership and fanbase to join the Big 12, often expressed publicly, created the impression that they didn't truly want to be there, fostering resentment among fans who are passionate about their conference.
2. The "Holy War" with BYU:

The intense and long-standing rivalry between Utah and BYU has now become an in-conference rivalry. This proximity and increased frequency of matchups amplify the existing animosity.  
BYU fans, in particular, have been vocal in pointing out what they perceive as Utah's hypocrisy, especially regarding NIL spending, given BYU's connection to the LDS Church. There's a sense of BYU fans relishing Utah no longer being in a perceived "superior" conference.
The bitterness of past recruiting battles and perceived slights between the two fanbases now plays out within the Big 12 context.
3. Perceived Entitlement and Lack of Early Dominance:

Some Big 12 fans anticipated Utah coming into the conference and immediately dominating, given their Pac-12 success. When that didn't fully materialize in their first season, it led to some schadenfreude from rival fans who felt Utah's preseason hubris was unwarranted.
Athletic Director Mark Harlan's highly publicized criticism of Big 12 officiating after a loss to BYU further fueled negative perceptions, with many Big 12 fans viewing it as sour grapes and a lack of respect for the conference.  
4. NIL Spending and Recruiting:

While not the primary driver of hate, Utah's own participation in NIL and recruiting battles can create friction with other Big 12 fanbases, particularly if they feel Utah is aggressively pursuing top talent.
In conclusion, while not every Big 12 fan actively "hates" Utah, there's a significant undercurrent of negative sentiment fueled by perceived arrogance upon joining the conference, the intensity of the BYU rivalry now being in-conference, a sense of unmet expectations, and specific incidents like the athletic director's comments on officiating. Utah's integration into the Big 12 has been met with more skepticism and outright hostility from some fanbases compared to the generally warmer welcome received by the other former Pac-12 members. The Utes will likely need to earn the respect of the Big 12 faithful through consistent on-field success and a more embracing attitude towards their new conference home.


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