The Holy War losing streak? Yeah, that three-game nightmare is officially GONE. Utah just absolutely put a statement win on the board, with quarterback Devon Dampier accounting for four total touchdowns and the Utes’ defense picking off BYU QB Bear Bachmeier four times in a huge 28-20 victory. This wasn’t just *a* big win, according to head coach Morgan Scalley. He said on the broadcast that it was “a big win, not THE big win.” But let’s be real, beating your rival like this, especially when it puts you in the driver’s seat for a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff spot? That’s as big as it gets.
Utah Comes Out Swinging, Every Single Time
You wanna talk about setting the tone? Utah is the best first quarter team in the entire sport. These guys don’t mess around. They scored on their opening drive against BYU, and it happened *fast*. Dampier and the offense took just 1:15 to drive 75 yards in three plays, putting that first touchdown on the board. That’s the eighth time this season Utah’s opening drive resulted in a TD, which is the most in the FBS. Remember how dominant the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers were last year, outscoring opponents 142-47 in the first quarter? Utah is channeling that energy. Through nine games this year, they’ve outscored their opponents a ridiculous 103-9 in the opening quarter. They didn’t stop there against BYU either, Dampier led another scoring drive on their next possession, jumping out to an early 14-0 lead. Sure, they gave that lead away, and then some, but scoring early gave them the foundation they needed to mount that comeback.
Dampier’s Heisman Hopes Just Got Real
Seriously, how about this for a stat: Devon Dampier has now gone 17 straight games with a rushing and passing touchdown in the same game. Seventeen! The Utes’ senior signal-caller was electric on Saturday, totaling four touchdowns, two through the air and two on the ground. And get this, the dude even came down with a huge 29-yard catch between two defenders. Not bad for a QB1, right? This was Dampier’s signature game, a true statement win in a league that hasn’t seen a national finalist since 2022 TCU. Think about it: Utah has been incredible this decade, but they’ve never gotten that College Football Playoff invitation. And a Heisman Trophy winner hasn’t come out of the Big 12 since Oklahoma left the conference. The last time the league produced one, it was a dual-threat quarterback in Kyler Murray. If the Big 12 is going to break that streak this year, Dampier is absolutely the guy to do it.
BYU’s Offense: Not Ready for Prime Time
You gotta give credit where it’s due: BYU’s offensive line came into Saturday’s game having allowed just five sacks all season, which was tied for fourth-best in the entire sport. Utah, on the other hand, only had 17 sacks all year, tied for 63rd. So, you’d think BYU’s O-line would hold up. But this game wasn’t about sacks, it was about turnovers and Bear Bachmeier’s inability to take care of the football. Bachmeier finished the game with four interceptions. Four! That’s as many picks as he had through the first *eight* games of the season combined. His third interception came on a third-and-goal play from the 2-yard line, when the Cougars were looking to tighten things up. You just can’t do that in a rivalry game, or any game with this much on the line.
So, where do the Utes go from here? They’ve slayed the rivalry demon and are now firmly in the driver’s seat for a Big 12 title run and, dare we say it, a shot at the College Football Playoff. With Dampier playing like this and that first-quarter attack, the rest of the Big 12 better be ready. Because Utah is coming for it all.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply