Utah football heads into its first road game of the season Saturday with an unbeaten record and a Big 12 opener waiting in Ames.
The No. 15 Utes will face Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium at 1:30 p.m.
Mountain, with FOX televising the matchup. Utah is 3-0 after three straight home games, while the Cyclones come in at 2-1.
Tim Brando will call the action for FOX, with Devin Gardner on analysis and Josh Sims reporting from the sideline.
For listeners, Utah’s radio broadcast will air on ESPN 700 AM and 92.1 FM. Bill Riley will handle play-by-play, Steven Sylvester will provide analysis and Zack Moss will be on the sideline. SiriusXM will carry the game on channels 177 or 237.
Utah finished its nonconference slate with a 33-0 shutout of Utah State, a game in which the Aggies were held to 188 total yards. Braden Pegan caught eight passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns against his former team, and Daniel Bray added a 63-yard touchdown run.
There was still some cleanup work for Morgan Scalley’s team after that win. During his Monday press conference, Scalley pointed to perimeter blocking and missed chances against Utah State’s aggressive defense as areas that need attention. At the same time, he praised the Utes’ tackling in space and pass protection as strengths as conference play begins.
Saturday also brings another shot at Iowa State after the Cyclones beat Utah 31-28 in Salt Lake City in 2024, the first Big 12 meeting between the programs. Iowa State leads the all-time series 5-1, though Utah’s last trip to Ames ended in a 68-27 win in 2010.
Devon Dampier remains at the center of Utah’s offensive picture. Scalley said the quarterback has continued to grow while learning the offense and identifying defenses, and he credited the protection and the range of targets available as reasons the passing game has clicked.
“That variety makes it harder for opponents to build their entire plan around eliminating one player.
“But when you have multiple threats, it makes it a lot easier,” Scalley said.
Byrd Ficklin gives the offense another wrinkle. Scalley said both quarterbacks can throw on the move, and he added that Ficklin wants to stay involved in the different roles Utah has built for him.
Up front, the offensive line situation is still being sorted out. The Utes are rotating linemen as the staff works toward its preferred group, and Scalley said he expects to have a starting five set within the next couple of weeks.
“I think we’re going to settle in here in the next couple of weeks on who those guys are,” he said.
Iowa State should provide another useful measuring stick for that group. Scalley called the Cyclones tough on defense, making the matchup a chance to test Utah’s communication, blocking responsibilities and the protection that has helped Dampier settle in.
Utah’s defense is also walking into its first road challenge with a few things to build on. Scalley said Rabbit Evans looked closer to his pre-injury form against Utah State, when the safety picked off his first career pass. He also singled out Trey Reynolds for his tackling in space and his willingness to take on offensive linemen.
Those traits will matter against an Iowa State offense Scalley described as an effective running team with a dynamic quarterback. For Utah, the focus is on carrying over the tackling and discipline it has shown, while tightening up alignment and assignment mistakes.
“This is going to be a really good test for our guys,” Scalley said.
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Utahs Early Two-Point Gamble Is Becoming A Real Problem For Opponents
Utah has started treating the point-after like an opportunity to create pressure, not just bank an extra point, and Morgan Scalley has leaned into that idea in back-to-back games. After the Utes second touchdown in each of their last two outings, he chose to go for two with unconventional formations, a small but noticeable wrinkle that forces opponents to stay sharp and prepare for more than the usual script.
Scalley said the approach is meant to test discipline and preparation, and he has already made clear there will be more two-point tries this season. It is another reminder that Utah is willing to use every edge available, while Scalley also showed a more personal side this week by visiting Utah State linebacker Harrison Taggart in the hospital after Taggarts serious injury and receiving a positive update on his condition. [Read more 🡒]