No. 12 Utah and Kansas are set up for a Saturday night collision in Salt Lake City that puts two of the Big 12’s best defenses front and center.
Kansas has been the league’s toughest unit by total defense, giving up only 244.8 yards per game. Utah has answered with the conference’s top scoring defense, allowing just 10.3 points a contest. Both teams have made life miserable for opposing run games, too: the Utes are surrendering 84.0 rushing yards per game, while the Jayhawks are giving up 100.0.
That defensive backbone is why Utah coach Morgan Scalley is treating the matchup with full respect, even with Kansas sitting at 2-2 and 0-1 in Big 12 play.
"Our guys understand what's at stake and understand that all 12 guaranteed games matter," Utah coach Morgan Scalley said. "If you look across college football, it's hard to win football games, and you got to show up to every game prepared, every game hungry, and never take an opponent lightly."
Utah enters at 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the league after a bye week following its 31-17 win at Iowa State. The Utes were sharp on offense in the first half of that game before cooling off after the break, but there is no obvious reason for alarm. They have now scored at least 30 points in 10 straight games going back to last season, the longest active streak in FBS.
Devon Dampier has been a big part of that surge. He leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency at 172.2, ranks second in completion percentage at .703, and is averaging 224.0 passing yards per game.
Kansas comes in with momentum of its own after a 55-0 rout of Middle Tennessee last Saturday. The Jayhawks posted their first shutout since 2008, held Middle Tennessee to 138 total yards, and piled up 706 yards themselves to set a new school record for total offense in a single game. Dylan Edwards powered the offense with 137 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
That blowout also carried historical weight for Kansas: it was the program’s largest margin of victory against an FBS opponent since 1968.
"Any time you can get on a winning track, the atmosphere in the building day after a game and on Monday, attitudes are a little bit different -- a lot more upbeat, positivity," Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. "But as we try to remain consistent every day to turn the page and focus in on the next opponent, it's also important (to stay grounded)."
This will be the sixth meeting between the programs. Utah leads the series 3-2, and Kansas is still looking for its first win over the Utes since 1951.
In Other News...
Flory Bidunga Just Added New Emotion To His Kansas Exit
Flory Bidungas departure from Kansas already had the feel of a significant roster turn, but his first public explanation in a Louisville uniform added a more personal layer to the move. The former Jayhawk and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year appeared at the ACC Basketball Tipoff and addressed why he decided to transfer after the 2025-26 season, giving a clearer look at the thinking behind a change that had plenty of people around Lawrence paying attention.
Bidunga made it plain that his exit was not about bad blood with Bill Self or the Kansas program, and he said he did not want to waste a year. He also spoke respectfully about both schools and coaches, while framing Louisville as the chance for a fresh start under Pat Kelsey, whom he described as a great coach. For Kansas fans, it leaves the move in a different light, even if the full picture of how it all unfolded still feels like it has another layer to come. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Defense Finally Gave Fans A Reason To Believe
Kansas finally had a defensive performance to point to as a real marker under Lance Leipold, and it came in a 55-0 rout of Middle Tennessee. The Jayhawks were sharp from the start, communicating well, playing with confidence and getting useful snaps from depth pieces like Dakyus Brinkley and Leroy Harris, all while keeping the Blue Raiders out of the end zone.
For a program that has spent too long waiting for proof it could consistently control a game on that side of the ball, the timing mattered almost as much as the result. The shutout offered a welcome boost before Big 12 play, and it also carried a little history with it, giving Kansas a long-awaited reminder that this defense can still deliver something fans had not seen in years. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Edwards Is Giving Kansas Fans A Reason To Watch This Backfield Closely
Dylan Edwards is starting to make Kansas fans take a closer look at the backfield, and the Wichita-area product delivered one of the weeks most eye-catching performances in college football. In a stretch that also featured strong outings from other local athletes across college sports, Edwards gave the Jayhawks a burst of production that stood out not just for the yardage, but for the way he kept showing up in the game-changing moments.
Kansas has been searching for consistent playmakers, and Edwards recent showing gives the offense another dynamic option to lean on as the season moves forward. With the Jayhawks trying to build momentum and sort out how their ground game fits into the bigger picture, his emergence adds another layer of intrigue to a backfield worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]