SALT LAKE CITY — Utah football extended its winning streak to 13 games with a hard-fought 21-13 victory over Houston on Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium, maintaining its status as the only unbeaten team in the Big 12 and one of three remaining undefeated teams nationally.
Under second-year head coach Morgan Scalley, a former Utah safety and team captain, the Utes showcased resilience after a scoreless first half, during which Houston became the first opponent in 25 games to hold Utah scoreless through 30 minutes. Houston forced two interceptions off Utah quarterback Devon Dampier and applied early pressure, but the Utes rallied in the second half behind 21 unanswered points.
Dampier, whose running ability is a key component of Utah’s offense, rushed for 150 yards on 15 carries and accounted for the game’s final touchdown. The decisive score followed a pivotal defensive play when safety Jackson Bennee forced a fumble on Houston’s Conner Weigman, setting the stage for Utah to seal the win.
Utah’s performance came on the heels of hosting ESPN’s “College GameDay” on Oct. 24, and followed a weekend in which multiple top-ranked teams, including No. 16 Houston, No. 7 Ole Miss, defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech, and archrival BYU all suffered defeats. With the victory, Utah sits alone atop the Big 12 standings, ahead of a cluster of one-loss teams.
Despite skepticism about the strength of Utah’s schedule and doubts expressed by some analysts, Scalley emphasized the team’s ability to handle adversity. “They hear Utah hasn’t played anybody. They hear that Houston’s going to get them, and that’s why they play the game,” Scalley said. “I’m proud of them.”
Dampier, who has risen to second place on Utah’s all-time rushing list for quarterbacks in just 20 games, acknowledged the doubts but expressed confidence in his team’s potential. “I think we’re written off by a lot of people,” he said. “We definitely felt that. We definitely heard about it. We knew what situation we were in. I told our team before we went out there, there’s no need to be nervous in this moment. We talked about reaching the college playoffs.”
The Utes face a challenging stretch ahead, beginning with an Oct. 31 trip to Cincinnati. The Bearcats recently erased a three-touchdown deficit against Texas Tech in the fourth quarter. Utah’s schedule continues with a matchup against BYU in the annual rivalry game known as the Holy War, followed by a road game against one-loss Arizona. The sequence represents a significant test of Utah’s capacity to remain unbeaten.
Utah’s unity and team culture remain central to its success. “How strong culture is. How much brotherhood and love can take you. That’s our foundation. That’s the three,” Dampier said. “I can say we showcased that tonight.”
As Utah continues to navigate a demanding schedule, the program appears determined to defy expectations and solidify its place among college football’s elite.