Tag: Utah Utes

Utah All-American DE John Henry Daley to transfer

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Utah’s All-American defensive end John Henry Daley announced plans on Tuesday to enter the transfer portal.

Daley was tied for the Big 12 in tackles for loss (17.5) and ranked fifth in the nation in sacks (11.5) in 11 games in 2025.

The All-Big 12 first-team selection and Bednarik Award semifinalist’s season ended with a lower-body injury on Nov. 22.

Daley said his injury rehab gave him “time to pray and reflect on my future.”

“I will be entering the transfer portal fully healthy by the spring of 2026,” he posted Tuesday on X.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pound redshirt sophomore from Alpine, Utah who spent his first season at BYU in 2023, has two years of eligibility remaining.

One potential landing spot for Daley is Michigan, which hired longtime Utes coach Kyle Whittingham last week.

The NCAA transfer portal opens Friday.

–Field Level Media

No. 13 Utah looking for better run defense at Kansas

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Utah’s path to the College Football Playoff narrowed on Tuesday night when the Utes dropped from 12th to 13th after rallying last week for a 51-47 home win over Kansas State.

To earn a spot in the Big 12 Conference title game and a potential berth in the CFP, Utah will have to win Friday at Kansas and then get help from three other Big 12 teams.

Even if the Utes (9-2, 6-2) take care of business in Lawrence against the Jayhawks (5-6, 3-5), they’ll require an Arizona victory at No. 20 Arizona State on Friday night, a West Virginia upset of No. 5 Texas Tech on Saturday in Morgantown, and a UCF stunner at No. 11 BYU that same day.

Those are some long odds but at least Utah still has a chance, thanks to Devon Dampier’s 1-yard touchdown run with 56 seconds left last week that salvaged a win on a day when it allowed a whopping 472 rushing yards.

“There’s no real easy explanation to it,” Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said about his defense’s poor performance. “We just did not play the run game in any way, shape or form with any consistency. It just wasn’t good. Everything we could do wrong, we did.”

Fortunately for Utah, its offense picked up the defense by amassing 32 first downs and 551 total yards. Dampier passed for 259 yards and ran for 94 to continue another banner season. He has thrown for 1,927 yards and rushed for 637 while accounting for 26 touchdowns (19 passing).

His performance has helped the Utes go from being one of the weakest attacks in FBS to one of strongest. They rank in the top 10 nationally in four categories — points per game (42.0), yards per game (484.5), rushing (279.6) and third-down conversions (53.1).

“Outstanding,” Whittingham said of Dampier’s latest effort. “Settled in and really played an excellent game.”

While Utah tries to maintain its slim chances of a CFP berth, Kansas needs the win to become bowl-eligible. The Jayhawks missed on a chance to do that last week with a 38-14 loss at Iowa State.

Kansas trimmed a 17-0 halftime deficit to get within 24-14 but wasn’t able to get a stop when it really needed one, which has been an issue most of the season. Its defense has allowed at least 37 points in five of the six losses.

Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold is stressing the need for his players not to try to do too much with bowl hopes on the line.

“It really goes for everyone in the building,” he said when asked if he had to deliver that message to specific players. “As coaches, that’s our responsibility to help our players. There’s times when a guy tries to go make a play that’s out of his responsibility. We want to make sure we play our best football.”

Kansas will need a big game from quarterback Jalon Daniels, who has thrown for 2,344 yards and 21 touchdowns with just four interceptions. The absence of Utes pass rusher John Henry Daley, whose 11 1/2 sacks are tied for second in FBS, should help Daniels. Daley is out for the season with a leg injury.

The teams are tied at 2-2 in their all-time series but this is their first meeting since 1996.

–Field Level Media

Explosive ground attack powers No.13 Utah to blowout of Baylor

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No. 13-ranked Utah rushed for touchdowns of 64, 67 and 74 yards, Elijah Davis scored on a pick-six, and the Utes cruised to a 55-28 rout of Baylor on Saturday in Waco, Texas.

Byrd Ficklin ran for the first of the long touchdown carries for Utah (8-2, 5-2) on a 67-yard dash early in the first quarter, extending its 14-7 lead to a multiple-score advantage the Utes held most of the rest of the way.

Wayshawn Parker carried for a 64-yard touchdown in the second quarter, then Ficklin broke off another of 74 yards in the third quarter.

Utah’s potent rushing attack totaled 380 yards, led by Ficklin’s 166. Parker ran for 129 yards, NaQuari Rogers and Nate Johns each gained 27 yards, and Devon Dampier finished with 23.

Dampier passed for two scores, the second travelling five yards to Parker, set up by Jackson Bennee’s interception of Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson in the fourth quarter.

The Utes also scored in the first quarter on Davis’ 65-yard return of his pick of Robertson. The Davis interception for a score came shortly after Dampier’s 25-yard touchdown strike to Dallen Bentley.

Robertson went 29-of-58 passing for the Bears (5-5, 3-4), totaling 430 yards with three touchdowns. Two of his scores went to Josh Cameron, the first on a goal-line toss in the second quarter that cut Utah’s initial lead in half.

Robertson found Cameron again for a 29-yard score just before halftime, part of Cameron’s 165 yards on 13 receptions.

Baylor scored early in the second half on a 31-yard Connor Hawkins field goal to pull the Bears within eight points, but it would get no closer as the Utes piled on three straight touchdowns.

NaQuari Rogers carried for a three-yard touchdown between Ficklin’s second long run and Dampier’s second touchdown pass.

Rogers tacked on another goal-line score to answer Robertson’s 18-yard, Kole Wilson scoring grab.

Wilson finished with four receptions for 87 yards in the loss, while Ashtyn Hawkins hauled in seven passes for 119 yards.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) runs the ball to the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a NCAA men’s football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Baylor Bears, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. Bearcats won 41-20.

Underdog at No. 24 Utah, No. 17 Cincinnati set for ‘tough challenge’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 17 Cincinnati faces its biggest test of the season so far when it visits No. 24 Utah on Saturday night.

The Bearcats (7-1, 5-0 Big 12) are tied atop the Big 12 standings with No. 10 BYU but face a tough path to reach the league title game in Arlington, Texas, with games against the Utes this week and the Cougars in late November still on the docket.

Utah (6-2, 3-2) is a 9.5-point favorite and Cincinnati knows it faces a stiff challenge on both sides of the ball from the Utes.

“This year, they have an outstanding offense, and they’re able to run the football,” Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield said. “They keep a lot of pressure on the defense. And, you know, I think obviously it’ll be a tough challenge for us. But we’re looking forward to it. We’re excited about it.”

Cincinnati stretched its winning streak to seven with a 41-20 victory over Baylor. The Bearcats scored 24 unanswered points to open the game and then pulled away for good after the Bears cut the deficit to seven.

Brendan Sorsby has quietly inserted himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation following another electric performance. Sorsby piled up 196 total yards on offense and threw a pair of touchdown passes to lead the Bearcats. Through eight games, he ranks third in the Big 12 in total offense (283.5 ypg).

Sorsby may have to take on a bigger role if Evan Pryor is unable to go after getting injured in the second half against Baylor. Pryor is Cincinnati’s top rusher with 478 yards and 7.2 yards per carry.

Satterfield said Pryor will be listed out on the team’s initial injury report on Wednesday, but his status is undetermined after that.

“We’ll see how he is and how he continues to progress throughout the week,” Satterfield said.

Losing a starting quarterback did not derail the season for the Utes unlike what transpired a year ago. Utah started Byrd Ficklin in place of injured Devon Dampier against Colorado and the Utes crushed the Buffaloes in a 53-7 victory.

How dominant was Utah?

The Utes racked up 398 total yards by halftime while holding Colorado to minus-18 yards. They finished with 422 rushing yards — the highest single-game total for any FBS team in a conference game this season.

Utah scored in less than a minute on five of its nine scoring drives. Three scoring drives covered only two plays. One covered a single play.

Ficklin was in the middle of it all — totaling 291 yards on offense, including 151 yards on the ground and three total TDs.

Still, Dampier is healthier than a week ago and could return Saturday. If he can go, he will get the start over Ficklin.

“I think the bottom line is, and always will be, which quarterback, which player for any position for that matter, gives you the best chance of winning,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “I can tell you we’ve got a lot of confidence in Byrd, especially after what we saw on Saturday night. But Devon is still QB1, make no mistake, there’s no QB controversy of any sort.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 11, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) and Utah Utes cornerback Smith Snowden (2) battle for a passed ball during the second quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Utah’s ground attack too strong for No. 21 Arizona State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Devon Dampier totaled 224 yards on offense and ran for three touchdowns to lead Utah to a 42-10 victory over No. 21 Arizona State on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.

The Utes (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) earned their first home victory over a Big 12 opponent since joining the league last season. Led by 120 yards on 10 carries from Dampier, Utah racked up 276 rushing yards and ran for six touchdowns against the Sun Devils, the most in a single game for the Utes since running for six scores in a 52-7 win over Stanford in 2021.

Arizona State (4-2, 2-1) saw an eight-game winning streak in Big 12 play come to an end in the absence of starting quarterback Sam Leavitt. Jeff Sims got the start after Leavitt sat out with a right foot injury. Sims totaled 176 yards on offense, completing 18 of 38 passes for 124 yards and gaining 52 yards on 21 carries.

Dampier, who rushed for touchdowns of 12, 24 and 9 yards, also was 7-of-12 passing for 104 yards.

Utah literally ran away from Arizona State in the first half. The Utes racked up 183 yards and three touchdowns on the ground by halftime while averaging 7.6 yards per carry.

Dampier scored Utah’s first two touchdowns on the ground. He cut off-tackle and sprinted 12 yards into the end zone to cap off the Utes’ opening 14-play, 75-yard drive. Early in the second quarter, Dampier faked a handoff and raced 24 yards to put Utah up 14-3.

Arizona State’s only first-half points came via Jesus Gomez’s 38-yard field goal. The Sun Devils tried to make it a one-score game on a 29-yard attempt from Gomez late in the second quarter. Jackson Bennee leapt over the line and blocked the field goal to keep Utah’s 11-point cushion intact.

NaQuari Rogers ran 22 yards to punctuate the ensuing drive and extend the Utes’ lead to 21-3 going into halftime.

The Sun Devils had an advantage in first half time of possession, holding the ball nearly 18 minutes. That didn’t translate to offensive success. Arizona State averaged just 3.1 yards per play over the first two quarters.

Rogers’ second touchdown, a 2-yard run off an extended option pitch, put Utah ahead 28-3 early in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Byrd Ficklin (15) is tackled by Cal Poly Mustangs linebacker Troy Bean (2) during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Wyoming welcomes No. 20 Utah for a resurrected rivalry

Posted on | by Field Level Media

An old rivalry will be renewed on Saturday when No. 20 Utah travels to Laramie to face Wyoming.

The Utes and the Cowboys were conference rivals in the Mountain West for 12 years until Utah left to join the Pac-12 in 2011. Saturday’s game will mark their 84th meeting overall, but the first since 2010 when the Utes won 30-6.

Through two games, Utah (2-0) has looked radically different from the team that struggled in its Big 12 debut a season ago. The Utes have combined a suddenly potent offense with their usual stifling defense to stake an early claim as a Big 12 title contender.

One key catalyst sparking Utah’s offensive resurgence is the progression of New Mexico transfer Devon Dampier.

Dampier battled inconsistency as a starting quarterback with the Lobos last season. He completed only 58 percent of his pass attempts while tossing 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

It’s a different story this season. Dampier’s 79.2 completion percentage leads the Big 12 Conference and is second in the FBS. He completed 21 of 25 passes against UCLA and 17 of 23 against Cal Poly. And, notably, he has zero interceptions while throwing five touchdown passes through two games.

“Devon has made a concerted effort to turn those weaknesses that were there last year into strengths, and so I think it’s just a natural progression of a quarterback getting better,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.

The only quibble with the offense to this point, for Whittingham, is that Utah isn’t producing many chunk plays in the passing game. Much of the offensive production for the Utes has been on the ground.

“We haven’t had a lot of explosive plays in the throw game,” Whittingham said. “We’ve got to continue to push the ball up the field more often.”

Wyoming has already witnessed Dampier’s playmaking abilities firsthand.

Dampier ran for a career-high 207 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries against the Cowboys last season. While New Mexico ultimately lost 49-45, he left a lasting impression on the Wyoming coaches.

“They’ve got a quarterback in Devon Dampier that I don’t think we’ve stopped, ever, so we’ve gotta try to figure out a way to do that,” Wyoming coach Jay Sawvel said.

Wyoming will get starting quarterback Kaden Anderson back for Saturday, which is welcome news as the Cowboys try to find a way to move the ball on one of the nation’s toughest defenses. Anderson exited during the third quarter of last week’s 31-7 victory over Northern Iowa with an upper body injury and did not return.

“I would anticipate him playing for sure,” Sawvel said. “Kaden Anderson is fine. We’re all very fortunate that it wasn’t anything more than what that was. The expectation would be that he’ll be starting this Saturday.”

Utah has won four straight games in the series and 10 of the last 11 overall. The Utes hold a 51-31-1 lead in the series with the Cowboys.

–Field Level Media

Oct 21, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Cam Rising reacts against the Southern California Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Former Utah QB Cam Rising medically retires

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Utah quarterback Cam Rising announced Wednesday that he is medically retiring from football due to a hand injury sustained last season.

Rising made the announcement in a post to X.

“Due to a hand injury I suffered during the Baylor game, I’ve been advised by two orthopedic physicians that I will never be able to return to playing football. I’ll be obtaining a 3rd medical opinion and will undergo the recommended surgery. I will continue to rehab and do all I can to get healthy. In the meantime, I will unfortunately be forced to medically retire from the game I love,” he posted.

The injury occurred in Utah’s second game on Sept. 7, a 23-12 win over Baylor.

Rising injured the finger on his right hand when he was pushed into coolers just off the sideline in the second quarter. He later returned to the bench area with two fingers taped together and wearing street clothes.

He returned Oct. 11 against Arizona State after missing three games. However, he would miss the remaining six games.

Rising missed all of the 2023 season after tearing multiple ligaments and meniscus cartilage in his left knee during a loss to Penn State in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, 2023.

Rising, who left the Utah program in January, led the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 championships and Rose Bowl appearances during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

He completed 63.0 percent of his passes for 6,127 yards with 53 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 30 games for Utah. He also rushed for 986 yards and 12 scores.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes the ball against Cincinnati during the third quarter in the week-12 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.

Rocco Becht, No. 22 Iowa State to test Utah’s stingy defense

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Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht put it succinctly after his team’s 34-17 win over Cincinnati last week.

“Whenever the ball is in my hands,” he said, “I can make a play with it.”

Becht will try to keep making those plays on Saturday night when the 22nd-ranked Cyclones bid to keep their Big 12 Conference championship hopes alive in Salt Lake City against struggling Utah.

After losing two straight games to fall behind BYU (9-1, 6-1) and Colorado (8-2, 6-1) in the conference, Iowa State (8-2, 5-2) needed Becht to make plays to get back on track. He threw a third-quarter touchdown to put the Cyclones ahead for good at 17-10 and added a fourth-quarter scoring run after the Bearcats trimmed their deficit to three points.

Becht completed 24 of 33 passes for 234 yards while adding 48 yards on seven rushes. He comes into this week’s game with 2,628 passing yards and 17 touchdowns.

What Becht gets on Saturday night likely will be earned. The Utes (4-6, 1-6) have dropped six straight games but the defense hasn’t been responsible for much of it, save for last week’s 49-24 defeat at Colorado.

Shedeur Sanders carved Utah up for 340 passing yards and three touchdowns in its first bad game of the year defensively. The Utes gave up an average of 20.4 points over their first five losses but simply haven’t been able to score enough to help their defense.

“This is, bar none, the best defense that we’ll play,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. “You look at their front seven, all fifth- and sixth-year seniors, some of the best defensive players in the country at their position.”

But Utah’s offense simply hasn’t been competent since veteran quarterback Cam Rising suffered an injury in a September win over Baylor that sidelined him for three games. Rising then was knocked out in his return game at Arizona State on Oct. 11 with what turned out to be a season-ending injury.

Freshman Isaac Wilson has showed flashes of brilliance from time to time but simply hasn’t played with the consistency needed to win at this level.

“Right now, I’m in the ‘Twilight Zone.’ It’s the most difficult year of my coaching career, hands down,” Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Not even close.”

Wilson has thrown for 1,436 yards and 10 touchdowns but also has tossed 11 interceptions and completed only 54.8 percent of his attempts. Aside from running back Micah Bernard and his 880 rushing yards, the offense is starved for consistent production.

Picked to win the Big 12 in July, Utah must win this week and next week at UCF just to qualify for a bowl game.

“We’re just not potent enough on offense,” Whittingham said.

While the Utes scrape out 22.7 points and 353.8 yards per game, Iowa State is averaging 31.4 and 434.2, respectively.

The Cyclones own a 4-1 lead in the all-time series but the teams haven’t played since 2010, when Utah went to Ames and scored a 68-27 victory.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) looks on before the game against the Utah Utes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Shedeur Sanders carries No. 17 Colorado past Utah 49-24

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Shedeur Sanders threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns as No. 17 Colorado withstood a late rally in a 49-24 win over Utah on Saturday in Boulder, Colo.

Sanders connected on 30 of 41 passes and had an interception. Travis Hunter made big plays on offense along with an interception and pass defended on defense. He added five receptions for 55 yards and a 5-yard rushing touchdown.

Colorado’s LaJohntay Wester had 10 receptions for 77 yards and a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown. Drelon Miller caught six passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, while Will Sheppard had five catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns.

Isaiah Augustave had seven carries for 59 yards and a touchdown for Colorado (8-2, 6-1 Big 12), while Nikhai Hill-Green and DJ Mckinney also had interceptions The Colorado defense had four sacks.

Isaac Wilson was 21-of-40 passing for 236 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions for Utah (4-6, 1-6 Big 12). Cole Becker had first-half field goals of 32, 34 and 47 yards for the Utes.

Utah’s Dorian Singer had five receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown and Caleb Lohner had a touchdown catch.

On the first play of the game, Sanders’ pass was intercepted by Lanyard Barton. The pick led to Becker’s first field goal and an early 3-0 Utes lead.

At 8:09 in the first quarter, Sanders lofted a 40-yard touchdown pass to Sheppard on a fourth-down play as Colorado took a 7-3 lead. Wester’s punt return touchdown gave Colorado a 14-3 lead and Sheppard’s second TD catch just before halftime gave Colorado a 21-6 lead.

Early in the second half, the Buffaloes turned Hill-Green’s interception into points one play later when Augustave high stepped into the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown run and a 28-9 Colorado lead.

Later in the third quarter, Singer and Wilson hooked up for a 40-yard touchdown to shrink the Buffaloes’ lead to 28-16.

With 13:58 left in the game, Drelon Miller fought through two tackles on a 47-yard touchdown reception as Colorado took a 35-16 lead.

The Utes rallied late, with a 3-yard touchdown reception by Lohner and a nifty, tackle-eligible two-point conversion play to Spencer Fano that cut the Colorado lead to 35-24.

On the Buff’s next possession, Utah recovered a fumble. But McKinney’s interception thwarted the next Utah drive which set up Offerdahl’s 4-yard touchdown scamper for a 41-24 lead.

With under three minutes to play, Hunter took a double reverse into the end zone for a 5-yard rushing touchdown and a 49-24 Colorado lead.

-Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes cornerback Smith Snowden (2) trips up Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Darius Lassiter (5) during the first quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

No. 9 BYU rallies past Utah on clutch field goal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Will Ferrin kicked three field goals, the final one from 44 yards out with three seconds left, as No. 9 BYU rallied to beat Utah 22-21 on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.

Jake Retzlaff threw for 219 yards to lead the Cougars. LJ Martin added 68 rushing yards. BYU (9-0, 6-0 Big 12) did not score an offensive touchdown until 12:35 remained in the fourth quarter.

Brandon Rose threw for 112 yards and two touchdowns and added 55 yards on the ground in his first career start for the Utes.

Micah Bernard rushed for 78 yards in the loss. Dorian Singer added 76 receiving yards on five catches. Utah (4-5, 1-5) has lost five straight games for the first time since 2013.

After trailing by 11 points at halftime, BYU drew within 21-19 on Retzlaff’s 1-yard scoring run to cap a nine-play, 95-yard drive early in the fourth quarter. Cameron Calhoun picked off a two-point conversion pass from Retzlaff to keep the Cougars from tying the score.

Later in the quarter, BYU got the ball back at its own 9 with 1:56 left. Utah sacked Retzlaff near the goal line on fourth down but got called for a defensive holding penalty. Retzlaff completed a 30-yard pass to Chase Roberts on second-and-10. A 12-yard catch by Darius Lassiter and a 14-yard run by Hinckley Ropati helped set up Ferrin’s game-winning field goal.

BYU struck first, going up 3-0 on a 23-yard field goal from Ferrin. Jakob Robinson’s interception at the BYU 38 set up the scoring drive. Utah answered early in the second quarter, taking a 7-3 lead on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Rose to Brant Kuithe.

The Cougars regained the lead at 10-7 when Keelan Marion returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. It was Marion’s second kickoff returned for a touchdown this season. He also scored on a 100-yard return at Wyoming.

Utah answered with two touchdown runs to go up 21-10 before halftime. Kuithe trotted in from a yard out to put the Utes back in front. Bernard stretched for the pylon at the end of a 7-yard run and made it a two-score lead on Utah’s ensuing drive.

–Field Level Media