Utah has wasted no time making noise in its first three games, and the Utes now get their Big 12 opener with real momentum behind them. At 3-0, they’ve already stacked up back-to-back blowout wins over Arkansas and Utah State, outscoring those two opponents 76-10 combined.
That run has been fueled in large part by Devon Dampier, who has looked like the engine of the offense. He has completed 71.6% of his passes for 690 yards, seven touchdowns, and only one interception, while also adding 114 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. If he keeps producing at that level once conference play starts, Utah is going to be a problem in the Big 12.
The defense has done its part, too. Utah ranks sixth in the country in opponent yards per play, allowing just 3.6 yards a snap. On the other side of the ball, the Utes are averaging 6.7 yards per play, which gives them a balanced profile that’s hard to ignore this early in the season.
Iowa State comes in at 2-1, but there are reasons to be cautious about its offense in this matchup. The Cyclones were held to just 255 yards of total offense against the Hawkeyes a couple of weeks ago, and that kind of output won’t cut it against a Utah defense playing this well.
The Utes have been one of the more impressive teams in the opening stretch, and this Week 4 meeting will be their first conference test.
In Other News...
Utahs First Big 12 Road Test Comes With Lingering Availability Questions
Utahs first player availability report of the season offered an early glimpse at the kind of uncertainty that can follow a Big 12 road trip. The Utes head to Iowa State with two players already ruled out and three more carrying questionable tags, a reminder that availability can matter as much as matchup details when the league opener arrives.
Defensive tackle Karson Kaufusi, receiver Mana Carvalho and offensive lineman Isaiah Garcia are all listed as questionable, while safety Marcus Wimberly and tight end Kanai Lopes have been ruled out. Iowa State has its own share of names on the report, setting up a game where the final lineup could still shift as the week moves along. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Strong Start Just Got A Transfer Story Fans Will Love
ESPN insider Max Olson recently put together a sleeper all-transfer team for the early part of the 2026 college football season, highlighting players who have already made a noticeable impact despite not landing in ESPNs top 100 transfer rankings. Among the names that stood out in the Big 12 was BYU offensive tackle Paki Finau, who has started every game at left tackle and helped anchor a Cougars line that has looked strong so far.
Utah also has a player on that list in defensive tackle Jireh Moe, whose early work has given the Utes a meaningful boost up front. Moe has already turned in a standout showing against Arkansas, a reminder that transfer additions can reshape a defense quickly when they settle in right away, and Utah will be watching closely to see how far that momentum can carry. [Read more 🡒]
Trey Reynolds Is Giving Utah A Feel Good Linebacker Story
Trey Reynolds path at Utah has turned into one of those stories that can energize a locker room as much as it does a fan base. After four years of sticking with the program before landing a starting role, the linebacker has emerged as a reminder of how much value there can be in patience, development and buying into a teams culture. He has talked openly about staying committed to the coaches and the program even when playing time was scarce, and that kind of perseverance tends to resonate in a room built on earning everything.
Reynolds also sounds like someone who understands the competition around him has helped sharpen his own game. He pointed to the supportive push among Utahs linebackers and singled out Cyrus for the hard work and dedication he brings every day, which says plenty about the standard in that group. Add in the confidence Reynolds has gained from praise from his coach, and the picture becomes even clearer: this is a player whose rise has been slow, steady and now finally impossible to ignore. [Read more 🡒]