Utah Utes beat No. 7 BYU 28-20 at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, a result that ended a three-game losing streak in the Holy War rivalry and kept the Utes unbeaten at home in 2026. Devon Dampier scored four touchdowns, three on the ground and one through the air, and the Utah defence intercepted four passes. The Utes improved to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play, while BYU fell to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the conference. The result was watched by a sellout crowd at Rice-Eccles Stadium, and it kept Utah in the race for a place in the Big 12 title game. The Utes had lost three in a row to the Cougars before Saturday, and they had not beaten BYU since 2019.
Utah had the better of the early stages. The Utes led 7-3 in the first quarter when Dampier ran in from the 1-yard line. The score was tied at 7-7 early in the second quarter when BYU’s Parker Kingston ran in from 19 yards out. Dampier then ran in again from two yards out to put Utah ahead 14-7. The Utes had a chance to extend the lead when Dampier threw to Rayshon Luke for a 52-yard gain, but the drive stalled and the Utes settled for a field goal. The score was 17-7 at half-time, and Utah had the momentum.
The Cougars did not give up. Bear Bachmeier ran in from the 10-yard line to make it 17-13, then Bear Bachmeier threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Kingston to give BYU the lead at 20-17. The Utes did not panic. They retook the lead at 21-20 when Dampier ran in from a yard out. The Utah defence then intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter, and the Utes went ahead 28-20 when Dampier threw to Luke for a 26-yard touchdown. Utah held on to win.
The win was built on defence. The Utes intercepted four passes, three in the first half. The defence stopped BYU on fourth down in the second half, and the Utes held BYU to 20 points, the lowest total the Cougars had scored this season. Utah held BYU to 4.5 yards per play, and the Cougars were held to 20 points for the first time this season. The Utes had the better of the game, and the result was a deserved one for the home side.
Utah Utes defence turns the game
Utah’s defence did most of the work. The Utes intercepted four passes, and the third of them set up a touchdown. The first came when BYU was on the march in the first quarter. The second came when BYU was in Utah territory. The third was picked off by a Utah defender, and the Utes turned it into a score. The fourth came when BYU was trying to drive for a tying score late in the game. The Utes had not forced four turnovers in a game all season, and the defence was the difference on Saturday.
Utah Utes rally behind Dampier
Dampier was the star of the show. He ran for three touchdowns and threw for another, and he was the best player on the field. Dampier ran for 87 yards on 22 carries, and he threw for 213 yards on 18-of-27 passing. He was sacked twice, but he kept getting up, and he kept making plays. The Utes had the better of the game in the second half, and Dampier was the reason why. Utah had the ball for 32:07, compared with 27:53 for BYU, and the Utes outgained the Cougars 434-354.
What the Utah Utes win means for the Big 12
The result keeps Utah in the race for the Big 12 title game. The Utes are 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the conference, and they have two games left. They will play Baylor on Saturday, 14 November, and they will finish the season at Kansas on 27 November. BYU will play TCU on Saturday, 14 November, and the Cougars will finish at Cincinnati on 27 November. The two teams could meet again in the Big 12 title game, and the result on Saturday will give Utah confidence if that happens. For BYU, the loss ends a three-game winning streak in the rivalry, and the Cougars will need to regroup quickly. The Holy War is one of the most intense rivalries in college football, and the 2026 edition lived up to its billing. Utah won it, and the Utes are unbeaten at home in 2026.