As Utah football opens a new chapter under Morgan Scalley, the Utes are dressing the part in one of the program’s most familiar uniforms.
No. 21 Utah will take the field Thursday night against Idaho at Rice-Eccles Stadium in an all-red look, with red helmets, jerseys and pants. The drum and feather logo is back on the helmet, giving the opener a traditional feel for a night that will launch Scalley’s first full season as head coach.
The choice fits the moment. Utah’s home red has long been part of its identity, and the drum and feather remains a favorite with the fan base even as the interlocking U has become more visible across the athletic department. For this one, the old-school look returns.
Scalley, though, isn’t interested in making the night about his own arrival. Asked whether walking onto the field as head coach would feel different, he said, “I don’t plan on it being too much different,” and later added, “This is not a Morgan Scalley deal,” he said later on. “This is a University of Utah deal.”
He credited the people around the program and brushed aside talk of a personal legacy, keeping his focus on the players, the culture and the larger group behind the Utes.
The opener comes with Utah carrying real momentum into Scalley’s first full season. The Utes are ranked No. 21 in the AP Top 25 after finishing 10-2 in the 2025 regular season.
A big reason for that optimism is back in place on offense. Quarterback Devon Dampier returns after throwing for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. He also ran for 835 yards and 10 scores, finishing with 34 total touchdowns in his first year with Utah.
Running back Wayshawn Parker is back as well after piling up 981 yards and six touchdowns on 149 carries. Together, Dampier and Parker give Utah a proven foundation in the backfield as the Utes move into Kevin McGiven’s first season as offensive coordinator.
There’s experience on defense too. Linebacker Johnathan Hall returns after leading the team with 67 tackles and six tackles for loss in 2025, while safety Jackson Bennee is back after finishing second on the squad with 64 tackles.
Thursday will also be Scalley’s regular-season debut as Utah’s head coach. He already led the Utes to a 44-22 win over Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl, but this one officially starts his first full run in charge after years as a Utah graduate and longtime assistant.
The numbers around Utah’s home opener are every bit as imposing as the uniform choice. The Utes have won 10 of their last 11 season openers, have taken 17 straight home openers, and have sold out 95 consecutive games at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Idaho hasn’t been on the schedule in a long time. Thursday’s meeting will be the first between the teams since 1993, when the Vandals beat Utah 28-17 in Salt Lake City.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT. The game will air on ESPNU and be carried locally on ESPN 700 and 92.1 FM.
In Other News...
Utah's First Rout Under Morgan Scalley Still Left One Big Concern
Utah opened the 2026 season in style at Rice-Eccles Stadium, rolling past Idaho 66-14 in Morgan Scalleys first rout as head coach. The Utes were efficient enough to put the game away quickly, with both quarterbacks Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin seeing action and the offense producing big plays throughout the afternoon.
Wayshawn Parker gave the start an immediate jolt, finding the end zone three times early as Utah built a cushion that never really came under threat. Even so, the clean final score masked some early unevenness up front, where both lines had moments theyll want back before settling in and improving as the game went along. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Backfield Suddenly Looks More Dangerous Than Anyone Expected
Utahs offense left no doubt in a 66-14 win over Idaho, and the most encouraging part for the Utes may have been how many ways they were able to run the ball. The victory set school records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, with the backfield piling up production well beyond the usual lead option. Wayshawn Parker was at the center of it, finishing with 71 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while several other Utah runners chipped in meaningful yardage.
Morgan Scalley had plenty to like afterward, especially the way Parker handled the moment and the overall depth in the running back room. For a team that wants its ground game to travel week after week, Utah suddenly looks as if it has more answers than expected, and this performance only raised the stakes for figuring out how the workload will be split moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Utah Just Unveiled Another Dangerous Weapon On Offense
Utah spent its season opener against Idaho showing just how many ways it can stress a defense, and Wayshawn Parker quickly became one of the nights most dangerous answers. The running back finished with 94 all-purpose yards in the 66-14 win, and he was part of an offense that looked anything but one-dimensional, with the Utes leaning on both the ground game and the passing attack to keep Idaho from settling in.
The broader picture was even more encouraging for Utah: the Utes rolled up big yardage in both phases and had multiple players involved in the scoring, while the defense helped tilt the game early with Trey Reynolds interception setting up the first points. For an offense still showing its full shape, Parkers breakout was the kind of opening statement that suggests there may already be another reliable threat waiting to emerge as the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]