Utah’s offense wasted no time showing it still has plenty of punch.
The No. 20 Utes opened the season by steamrolling Idaho 66-14, piling up 633 total yards and nine touchdowns in a performance that made the scoreboard look more like a video game than a season opener. Utah (1-0) was efficient everywhere, outgaining the Vandals through the air 269-225 and on the ground 364-225, while averaging 8.6 yards per play on first downs.
What stood out most was how many different players got involved. Ten Utes logged at least one carry, and eight different players caught a pass, giving the offense the kind of depth that can make game-planning miserable for a defense.
"I think the biggest thing was the amount of guys that were involved in the offense," Utah coach Morgan Scalley said. "That can create issues when you're scheming for an offense.
Who are their guys? And who do we need to take care of?
And when you've got that many guys getting the ball, it can be a tough one."
Utah also passed an important test up front. The rebuilt offensive line, with all five starters replaced from last season, didn’t allow a sack in the opener. Scalley said he wants to see fewer hits on quarterback Devon Dampier this week, but he liked what the line gave the Utes against Idaho.
"We had a good rotation there at the guard spot," Scalley said. "I thought guys got quality reps. We'll settle in on a starting five this week that hopefully can last us throughout the game."
Arkansas brings a different kind of challenge to Salt Lake City on Saturday night, and the Razorbacks are trying to show they can climb back into contender territory after a string of ordinary seasons.
The Razorbacks (1-0) beat North Alabama 31-14 in their opener, leaning on defense and ball control to control the game for 41 minutes and 27 seconds. But the offense left room for improvement, finishing with just 148 rushing yards and a 3.0-yard average per carry.
That’s a problem against a Utah team that usually takes pride in shutting down the run.
"You're facing a tough Utah defense, so we've got to be creative," Razorbacks coach Ryan Silverfield said. "We've got to find ways to run the ball effectively.
I've done this a long time, 28 years, and there have been times where the run game had struggled getting going. The next week, it's a different story."
Saturday’s matchup will be the first meeting between Utah and Arkansas. The Utes are also hosting an SEC opponent for the second time in four seasons after beating Florida 24-11 in their 2023 season opener.
In Other News...
Karson Kaufusi Gives Utah An Early Boost Where It Matters Most
Karson Kaufusi came away from Utahs win over Idaho feeling like he had turned in his best game in a Utes uniform, and it was easy to see why the defensive tackle left the field encouraged. In his second year, Kaufusi pointed to the physical gains he has made and the way they showed up in the trenches, where Utah wanted more bite and consistency from the start. For a defense that has spent camp emphasizing run defense, that kind of early push matters.
Kaufusi also leaned into the bigger picture, crediting his work with teammate Jireh Moe and the way the defensive line is starting to come together. He said communication has been a key part of that growth, and it is the sort of detail Utah wants to hear as the unit keeps building toward tougher tests ahead. The performance against Idaho may not settle anything for the season, but it offered a useful sign that the Utes are getting closer to the version of themselves they want to be. [Read more 🡒]
Whittinghams Michigan Debut Raised A Familiar Problem Utah Fans Know Too Well
Kyle Whittinghams first game on the Michigan sideline did not feel much like a fresh start. In a tight opener against Western Michigan, the Wolverines spent most of the afternoon fighting their own offense as the game slipped into a slugfest, with just two touchdowns and 229 total yards leaving plenty of room for unease. Bryce Underwoods day was uneven, and the larger problem looked familiar to anyone who has watched a Whittingham-led team get dragged into a game it ought to control.
What makes the result linger is how little comfort came with the final horn. Michigan came away with the win, but the way the clock and the last play unfolded only added to the uneasiness around a performance Whittingham tied to poor preparation and his own responsibility. Even amid the mess, he made a point of praising freshman backup Tommy Carr, a small bright spot in a game that otherwise left more questions than answers. [Read more 🡒]