Morgan Scalley’s first season opener as Utah’s head coach could hardly have gone much smoother.
The Utes rolled past Idaho 66-14 on Thursday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium to kick off the 2026 season, and the game was effectively settled before it ever had a chance to breathe. Idaho showed a little fight early, but Utah had this one under control from the jump.
That kind of night also gave Utah a chance to clean up some loose ends before SEC opponent Arkansas comes to Salt Lake City next Saturday.
One of the biggest storylines was how Kevin McGiven handled the quarterback room. The expectation coming in was that both Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin would have roles, and that plan showed up immediately. The two were even on the field together for a trick play, and both got meaningful work steering the offense.
Dampier finished 13 of 18 for 176 yards and three touchdowns. Ficklin was just as productive in his own way, going 4 of 8 for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
On the ground, Ficklin added 70 yards on eight carries, while Dampier chipped in 31 yards on six attempts. Neither quarterback found the end zone on the ground, but Utah made it clear it has multiple ways to attack with the ball in its hands.
Wayshawn Parker also wasted no time making his presence felt. The junior running back scored twice as a receiver and once on the ground, turning in a three-touchdown night that points to how central he could be to Utah’s offense this season.
He finished with 94 yards of total offense, and all of it came in a little more than a quarter of action. If he’s doing that in limited time, there’s obvious upside once he’s asked to carry a full workload.
The line play was a little shakier early, even if it didn’t become a lasting issue. Utah’s offensive and defensive fronts both had some slow moments at the start, and Idaho was able to put together one well-designed drive that opened some space and led to the Vandals’ only first-half touchdown. Joshua Wood also had one eye-catching moment, escaping what looked like a sure loss before turning the play into a big gain that eventually helped set up another Idaho score.
Still, Utah’s defense settled in and made life hard on Wood and the Vandals the rest of the way. The Utes also got consistent pressure after the early back-and-forth, including a sequence that stopped what could have been a touchdown on a throw to the sideline.
The offensive line remains the biggest unknown, though a game against FCS Idaho doesn’t reveal everything. Next week’s meeting with Arkansas should tell Utah and Scalley a lot more about where the fronts really stand.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
BYUs Rebuilt Offensive Line Carries Real Pressure Into The Opener
BYUs opener against Utah Tech puts the Cougars rebuilt front under an early spotlight, and the expectation is that the group up front will look like one of the teams biggest advantages right away. The line has the size, speed and depth to control the scrimmage, and that matters for a roster trying to settle in behind a unit that has been reshuffled by departures and fresh faces. With Bruce Mitchell back at center as a preseason All-America pick and a Big 12 preseason first-team selection, BYU has at least one proven anchor to organize what comes next.
Mitchells presence is especially important because the Cougars are leaning on a mix of returning players and transfers to fill out the starting five, while the backfield also has some breathing room behind leading rusher LJ Martin. The talent is there, but the first real test is whether that group can turn its promise into the kind of cleaner, more physical start that sets the tone for the rest of the fall. For a line still developing its identity, the opener is less about flashing potential than showing it can handle the pressure that comes with being the strength everyone expects it to be. [Read more 🡒]