SALT LAKE CITY — Utah kicked off the 2025 season with a statement victory, beating UCLA 43-10 in the Rose Bowl late Saturday night.
While the national media was focused on UCLA's transfer quarterback, it was Utah's transfer quarterback that stole the show. Devon Dampier threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns, and also led the team with 87 rushing yards and a score.
Kyle Whittingham moved to 17-4 in season openers, and the big win caught the attention of pollsters, with Utah moving up to No. 25 in the Associated Press poll this week. That ranking is not giving Utah enough credit, and on my weekly FWAA-NFF Super 16 ballot, I have Utah ranked No. 11 nationally.
Utah hosts Cal Poly from the FCS ranks this Saturday in their home opener (4 p.m. MDT, ESPN+).
Game Grader
(Opponent-adjusted statistical dominance via Pick Six Previews)
3-year average (2022-24): Utah 55.4 (23rd of 68 Power 4) | Cal Poly (FCS)
2024 season: Utah 44.9 (48th) | Cal Poly (FCS)
2025 season: Utah 67.7 (15th) | Cal Poly (FCS)
My Game Grader formula is a measure of statistical dominance that adjusts for opponent strength and is a key piece of my preseason and in-season evaluation.
In my annual season preview magazine Pick Six Previews, I selected Utah to finish fourth in a wide-open Big 12 race; but after their blowout win over UCLA, that projection has shifted.
Utah had the No. 2 Game Grade of Week 1 (only trailing TCU's blowout of North Carolina), and Utah has now moved up to the top spot in the Big 12. It is early, but now my game-by-game projections have Utah favored in all nine Big 12 games, and they earned a spot onto my playoff bracket projection this week.
In the Big Sky Conference preseason media poll, Cal Poly was selected 11th in the 12-team league. They defeated San Diego 41-17 last week.
Utah with the ball
Utah offense: 43 points/game (30th of 136 FBS teams)
Cal Poly defense: 17 points/game (26th of 129 FCS teams)
Jason Beck's offense was as-advertised, and the new dynamic scheme rolled up nearly 300 rushing yards on their Power Four opponent.
Wayshawn Parker and NaQuari Rogers both rushed for 60+ yards and a touchdown, Dampier added 87 yards on scrambles and designed runs, and even starting nickel Smith Snowden rushed for a touchdown. The Utah offensive line also lived up to high preseason expectations.
The line earned my No. 1 Big 12 offensive line ranking in the magazine, and then backed it up with a steady run push and strong pass protection for Dampier.
Dampier looked very poised in his first Power Four test, completed 82% of his passes and made no mistakes. He fully outclassed his counterpart, former five-star and offseason headliner Nico Iamaleava.
If he continues this level of play into Big 12 competition, Utah should be the new favorites to win the league.
Another storyline emerged as multiple defenders were lining up on offense — and two scored touchdowns. Whittingham had mentioned the possibility of two-way players, but it seemed to be a throwaway summer quote. It turns out, he meant every word.
All-Big 12 linebacker Lander Barton got reps at tight end, and caught Dampier's first touchdown pass. Snowden rushed for a touchdown and actually led the team in receiving with six catches for 51 yards.
Against an overmatched FCS opponent, look for Beck to experiment with more unique personnel groupings before Big 12 play heats up.
Cal Poly with the ball
Cal Poly offense: 41 points/game (8th of 129 FCS teams)
Utah defense: 10 points/game (38th of 136 FBS teams)
Cal Poly scored 41 points on San Diego, with an offense that is led by a former Power Four quarterback commit Ty Dieffenbach, who was originally a three-star signee for Pittsburgh but then transferred back to his home state. Dieffenbach went 18-of-27 passing for 263 yards in the opener.
Utah has a decisive talent advantage at every single position here. Their performance against Iamaleava was impressive, as they held him to just 50% completion, and 136 passing yards.
The Utah rush defense held UCLA's backs to just 2.4 yards per carry and kept them under 100 yards as a team. Despite losing five of their six defensive linemen this offseason, the new unit appears to be fully reloaded. Next to Logan Fano, another potential star emerged in John Henry Daley who had two sacks on Iamaleava.
Game prediction
Utah answered both preseason questions emphatically Saturday: How would the new scheme and quarterback translate to the Power Four level, and how would Morgan Scalley reload his defensive line?
The offense looks clean, polished, and could not be stopped by their Power Four opponent. Beck earned my Week 1 Coordinator of the Week honors (via Pick Six PLUS) and Scalley's RSNB defense looks as fierce as ever.
The 43-10 statement over UCLA shifted Utah toward the top of the updated Big 12 projections.
Utah has beaten its last four FCS opponents by an average of 41 points per game and this one should be no different.
Utah 51 | Cal Poly 7
