Utah fans celebrated a thrilling win on Saturday as the No. 3 Utes defeated No. 9 BYU 28-20 at Rice‑Eccles Stadium. The victory marked Utah’s 15th straight win—the longest active streak in college football—and snapped a three‑game losing streak to the Cougars.
Key moments and standout performances
Quarterback Devon Dampier was the night’s hero. He completed 14 of 26 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 87 yards and two scores. His dual‑threat display vaulted him into the Heisman Trophy conversation.
The Utes struck first, with Dampier breaking a 22‑yard run for a touchdown just 1:15 into the opening quarter. A second scoring drive saw Dampier connect with wide receiver Braden Pegan on a 46‑yard pass, giving Utah a 14‑0 lead.
BYU rallied with two field goals and a 75‑yard touchdown pass from Bear Bachmeier to Legend Glasker, narrowing the gap to 14‑13. A fumble by Pegan allowed BYU to take a 20‑14 lead early in the second quarter.
Utah’s defense responded with a crucial interception by James Chenault Jr., preventing further BYU scoring before halftime. The second half featured a dramatic 29‑yard conversion when wide receiver Creed Whittemore threw a pass to Dampier, setting up a potential scoring opportunity.
After a missed 29‑yard field goal by kicker Dillon Curtis, Utah regained the lead late in the third quarter when Pegan caught a 14‑yard touchdown pass from Dampier. The extra point put the Utes ahead 21‑20.
In the fourth quarter, Dampier capped his performance with a third‑and‑goal rush for a two‑yard touchdown. Kicker Dillon Curtis added the extra point, extending Utah’s lead to 28‑20.
BYU’s final drive ended in a fourth interception, this time by safety Nate Ritchie, sealing the win for Utah. BYU quarterback Bachmeier finished with 272 passing yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions.
Implications for the season
The win keeps Utah undefeated and firmly in the driver’s seat for the Big 12 championship. With a perfect record and a 15‑game winning streak, the Utes are all but assured a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Next up, Utah will travel to face No. 22 Arizona on Saturday, while BYU looks to rebound against Baylor next week.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
