If anyone was looking for a letdown spot, Utah had a pretty simple answer Saturday in Cincinnati: not happening.
A week after knocking off then-No. 14 Houston, the Utes went on the road and ripped through the Bearcats in a 49-25 win that was never really in doubt after the opening stretch.
Utah scored on its first drive, shut Cincinnati out of the end zone in the first half and piled up four offensive touchdowns and two defensive touchdowns before halftime. By then, the Utes were already ahead 42-6, and the Bearcats never made enough noise after that to turn it into a game.
The defense set the tone early and kept it there. Cincinnati got into scoring position twice in the first half, but both trips ended with field goals instead of touchdowns.
The Bearcats also missed a field goal on another possession, and Utah made them pay for every empty trip. Rabbit Evans delivered one of the biggest swings of the game when he recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown, and then Elijah Davis added another dagger just before halftime, picking off JC French IV and taking it back to the end zone.
Utah’s first-half dominance also extended a notable streak, with the Utes continuing their run of pick-sixes. The team’s social post after Davis’ score highlighted “23 consecutive seasons with a pick-six,” calling it the longest streak in NCAA history.
The offense, meanwhile, answered any questions left over from the Houston game. After failing to score in the first half a week earlier, Utah came out aggressive and efficient against Cincinnati. Devon Dampier threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns, while Wayshawn Parker and Daniel Bray handled the ground game with 82 and 75 rushing yards, respectively, and each found the end zone.
Daniel Bray did damage in more than one way, too. He scored both as a runner and as a receiver, while Hunter Andrews was a major factor through the air with five catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
For a Utah team that had to hear plenty about avoiding a trap game on the road, the response was emphatic. Morgan Scalley’s group looked in control from the start, kept the pressure on, and never gave Cincinnati a real opening.
Now the Utes move on to a huge matchup with BYU next week.
In Other News...
Utah Looks More Dangerous Than Ever With BYU Up Next
Utah kept rolling on the road Saturday, knocking off Cincinnati 49-25 to move to 8-0 and further strengthen the case that this team is built for more than just a strong start. Devon Dampier kept the offense humming with 260 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Hunter Andrews turned in another big day at tight end with five catches for 112 yards and two scores. It was the kind of balanced, high-end performance that has made the Utes look increasingly difficult to handle on either side of the ball.
The defense added to the statement win by scoring twice, including another pick-six to keep Utahs unusual run of defensive touchdowns going. Elijah Davis was the one who brought one back, and the Utes also got a return score on a Cincinnati turnover as the game tilted hard in their favor early. With BYU next, Utah is carrying both momentum and a growing sense that this team has more ways to beat you than most opponents can account for. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Unbeaten Run Just Got Even More Encouraging
Utahs unbeaten start kept rolling Saturday in a way that should leave the rest of the Big 12 paying attention. The Utes handled Cincinnati 49-25 to move to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play, and they did it with a performance that looked complete from the opening series. Devon Dampier helped set the tone, Wayshawn Parker added to the push, and Utah piled up 534 total yards while never letting the Bearcats settle in.
What stood out most was how quickly the game got away from Cincinnati, with Utah scoring early and often before the defense joined the party. Daniel Bray and Hunter Andrews were part of an offense that kept finding answers, and the Utes had built a commanding halftime cushion long before the final whistle. For a team still unbeaten deep into the season, this was the kind of win that suggests Utah is not just surviving the Big 12 race, but controlling it. [Read more 🡒]
Utah Looked Like A Complete Team In This Halloween Blowout
Utahs Halloween trip to Nippert Stadium turned into a showcase of how complete this team can look when everything is clicking. The Utes rolled past Cincinnati 49-25, and the game was effectively over by halftime after Utah built a 42-6 lead. The defense set the tone early, scoring twice in the first half to put the Bearcats in a deep hole before the offense even had to do much heavy lifting.
Devon Dampier added the kind of efficient production that made the margin feel even more lopsided, throwing for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Cincinnati did get a brief spark in the third quarter when Jacob Finley returned an interception for a touchdown, but Utah had already done enough damage on both sides of the ball to leave little doubt about the outcome and plenty of reasons for the Utes to feel good about where they stand. [Read more 🡒]