Devon Dampier Leads Utah to 28-20 Victory Over No. 9 BYU

Utah quarterback Devon Dampier fueled Heisman Trophy discussions on Saturday after accounting for all four touchdowns in a 28-20 victory over No. 9 BYU.

The win at Rice-Eccles Stadium keeps the Utes perfect at 9-0 for the season and marks a significant victory in a top-10 matchup between the two rivals. Deseret News reported that the contest remained undecided until the final moments, ultimately being secured by a Utah defense that forced four turnovers, including two on BYU’s final two drives.

Devon Dampier leads No. 3 Utah past No. 9 BYU in Holy War thriller — CBS Sports College Football

Dampier’s performance has drawn national attention, earning him the Paul Hornung Award Player of the Week, a Maxwell Award semifinalist nod, and recognition as the Big 12 co-Offensive Player of the Week. The senior signal caller delivered a versatile stat line, throwing for 177 yards and rushing for 87 yards, while also catching a 25-yard pass to convert a fourth down.

“Our team played lights out that last quarter. I think that was one of our best quarters (for) all of us, keying in on assignments,” Dampier told Deseret News.

“Our fans showed out for sure the whole entire game and I’m so glad so many people were able to enjoy that moment. You don’t get a lot of moments like that, so very fun to be able to celebrate with everyone in this building.”

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Dampier overcomes previous adversity

The victory shows how Dampier's leadership and mental approach have changed since last season. Utah coach Morgan Scalley said that the quarterback has transformed from a player who struggled with the emotional weight of the game into a resilient leader.

“He’s a competitor. He’s a warrior. He wins us football games. In my opinion, last year he just didn’t quite understand how his body language, how he handled adversity affected the rest of the team, and man is he leading now,” said Morgan Scalley, Utah coach. Morgan Scalley

Scalley pointed to Dampier’s ability to maintain a “short memory” during high-pressure situations as a primary driver of the team’s success this year. This mental shift was evident during the game when Dampier converted a critical third-and-7 in the third quarter, fending off a sack attempt by BYU’s Isaiah Glasker to set up a touchdown pass to Braden Pegan.

ICONIC: This photo of Utah QB Devon Dampier celebrating with thousands of Utes fans after the Holy War against BYU is absolutely INCREDIBLE. Dampier standing above a sea of red as fans surround him is a moment that will be remembered for years. SPECIAL. (📸@jasonandersen15) pic.twitter.com/jBdgEEBUx7

— Post by @MLFootball on X

Dampier’s ability to stabilize the offense follows a similar pattern seen two weeks ago during Utah’s 21-13 win over Houston. In that matchup, he overcame two interceptions to rush for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

“One thing I took personal — last year, I just felt like I didn’t show up in some of our ranked games, and that was a big mentality this year, to take practice as much as I can, preparation as much as I can so I’m in the best position possible,” Dampier said.

Devon Dampier Leads Utah to 28-20 Victory Over No. 9 BYU

Statistical impact of the Utah victory

The efficiency of the Utah offense was largely driven by Dampier’s dual-threat capabilities, which forced the BYU defense to account for both his passing and running lanes. His contributions are summarized in the following breakdown of his scoring and yardage from the game:

Category	Statistic
Passing Yards	177
Rushing Yards	87

The atmosphere at Rice-Eccles Stadium was bolstered by a heavy presence of Utah alumni and future talent. Former Utes such as Steve Smith, Terrell Burgess, and Bradlee Anae were in attendance, alongside high-profile recruits including Gaige Weddle, the son of former Utah legend Eric Weddle.

Devon Dampier DID IT ALL Utah QB Shines in HUGE Win Over BYU — ESPN College Football

While the Heisman buzz grows, the Utes are focused on their undefeated streak as they play the rest of the Big 12 schedule. Dampier emphasized his commitment to the collective success of the roster rather than individual accolades.

“One thing I took personal… when it matters, I want to be there for my teammates. I want them to be able to lean on me,” Dampier said.