No. 21 Utah defeats Idaho in 2026 season opener at Rice-Eccles Stadium

The No. 21 Utah Utes opened their 2026 season with a 66-14 victory against Idaho at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday night. Head coach Morgan Scalley secured his first win in his inaugural season as the team’s leader. Quarterback Devon Dampier returned to the field following an injury-shortened 2025 campaign to lead the offense. Backup quarterback Byrd Ficklin also saw playing time, contributing to the team's production alongside Dampier throughout the contest. Scalley noted that the dual-threat capability of both quarterbacks presents a tactical challenge for opposing defenses. The team now turns its attention to the remainder of the schedule.

• 10:12 PMYahoo Sports — ‘We definitely enjoyed it’: What you may have missed as Utah brought the fun to its season opener