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No. 10 Utah football survives No. 14 Houston test to stay unbeaten. Here are 3 takeaways.

Devon Dampier’s legs and a clutch defensive play helped the No. 10 Utes hold off No. 14 Houston at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier (4) as Utah hosts Houston, NCAA football at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier (4) as Utah hosts Houston, NCAA football at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.

By https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/684b2f12-8528-496e-97cc-4cfa23d2fc8b.jpg Jason Batacao
 | Oct. 25, 2026, 12:04 a.m.
| Updated: 2:04 a.m.

Utah was the last remaining undefeated team in the Big 12 heading into its late-night bout versus Houston on Saturday.

With a win, the Utes would become the odds-on favorite to win their conference.

A loss? The Big 12 standings would become that much more confusing and convoluted.

BYU lost in a double-overtime thriller to UCF. Texas Tech was boat-raced on the road by Cincinnati, giving both the Red Raiders and Utah’s in-state rival their first losses of the year.

The Utes, though, didn’t join them in the one-loss club.

Jackson Bennee’s strip sack set up a Devon Damper touchdown, and the Utes beat No. 14 Houston 21-13 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

“It was a great call,” Bennee said of his game-clinching strip sack. “I can’t really take too much credit for it. It opened up how it should, and that’s what you dream of.

“Honestly, I feel like every time you get a blitz, and you’re hitting the quarterback, you’re like, ‘Man, it’s too good to be true. He probably threw the ball,’ and that’s usually how it happens. But I guess I got lucky.”

Utah is now 7-0 on the season and 4-0 in the Big 12, with a clear path to be the best team in the conference.

“A reminder: It’s hard to win in college football,” Utah head coach Morgan Scalley said. “I’m so grateful for our guys, their fight, and that’s what you need. I don’t really care about the stats — I’m just so proud of these guys.”

Here are three takeaways from the win.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes tight end Hunter Andrews (10) leaps over Houston Cougars defensive back Jordan Allen (6) Utah hosts Houston, NCAA football at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.

Devon Dampier or nothing

Utah’s star quarterback Devon Dampier has been more selective about how he uses his legs this season.

That changed against Houston.

He had 198 rushing yards coming into this game. He had 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Cougars.

Dampier was the Utes’ only semblance of offense in the first two quarters. He accounted for 176 of Utah’s 194 total first-half yards. But he also threw an interception on a key first-half possession that could have resulted in at least a field goal for Utah.

“We always take what the defense gives us,” Dampier said. “Just watching film, there were a lot of run lanes during drop-back passes. It was emphasized this week [by my coaches], ‘Devon, if you see it, go take it.’ That’s the mentality we had.”

The trend continued into the third quarter.

Dampier scored Utah’s first touchdown of the night on a 22-yard scramble with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter, cutting Houston’s lead to 10-7.

He willed the Utes to another score early in the fourth quarter, connecting with tailback Wayshawn Parker for back-to-back 13-yard receptions.

Parker later broke the plane on a five-yard run up the middle, giving the U. a 14-13 lead with 11:57 remaining.

Dampier threw a second pick with 7:57 remaining, but Utah’s defense bowed up for another stop, setting Dampier up for another rushing touchdown.

“That’s how strong culture is,” Dampier said. “That’s how far brotherhood and love can take you. That’s our foundation.”

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes kicker Dillon Curtis (17) after missing a field goal at the end of the first half as Utah hosts Houston, NCAA football at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.

A defensive battle

The Cougars played in a shootout against Oklahoma State last week.

That wasn’t the case against the Utes ... at least in the first half.

Defensive coordinator Colton Swan’s unit had two key red-zone stops, which included a turnover on downs with 3:45 left in the first quarter.

Swan’s unit came up with another crucial play on third-and-goal in the second quarter. Houston quarterback Connor Weigman overthrew wide receiver Trent Walker in the end zone, leaving Houston with three points.

For the first time all season, Utah’s offense didn’t score any points in the first half. Dampier and the Utes went 0-for-2 in the red zone in the first half — trips that ended with an ill-advised interception and a shanked field goal seconds before halftime.

Utah’s defense continued to deliver in the second half with multiple key stops — none bigger than Bennee’s blitz with Utah holding on to a 14-13 lead. Bennee knocked the ball free from Weigman, and the Utes recovered the fumble.

Scalley said after the game the play call dialed up by defensive coordinator Colton Swan was named “the unblockable blitz.”

“It was a pressure that’s been here since the beginning of time,” Scalley said. “Kyle Whittingham calls it the unblockable blitz, but people have blocked it before. It came clean, and it was very timely.

“It’s something that we haven’t dialed up in a in a little bit.”

On the next play, Dampier was celebrating in the end zone.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes cornerback Elijah Davis (9) celebrates a stop as Utah hosts Houston, NCAA football at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.

Wayshawn Parker is stymied ... then scores

Utah running back Wayshawn Parker has been the biggest piece of the Utes’ offense this season.

And the Cougars’ defense keyed in on him all night.

Parker was held to 16 rushing yards in the first half. But he delivered when it mattered. With a little over 12 minutes remaining in the fourth, Parker took a direct snap and danced his way past the goal line for a five-yard touchdown, giving Utah a 14-13 lead.

He finished with 47 yards rushing and 46 yards receiving.

Next up: The Utes will travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bearcats next Saturday.

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