SALT LAKE CITY — As Utah turns the page to Week 9, it brings another pivotal challenge against Colorado, and the availability report will be a significant storyline this week.
The Buffs are 3-4 but those four losses have come against teams with a combined 25-3 record. This is a team that is playing better than the record might indicate. To compound things, Devon Dampier’s status isn’t totally clear.
“Can’t complain, I mean, everyone in the country’s lost guys and missing key guys here and there, that’s just the nature of the business,” Whittingham said.
The conference-mandated availability report has once again taken center stage — not because of mystery, but because of what hangs in the balance.
Utah’s managing health as good as anyone, but Devon Dampier is a question?
After back-to-back physical games against Arizona State and BYU, head coach Kyle Whittingham shared they can’t really complain about the health of the team.
“We have to wait a few days to see how he’s healing up from the game,” Whittingham said on Monday. “You’ll start getting the availability report and the likelihood of who’s playing and who’s not on Wednesday.”
That wait matters this week. Quarterback Devon Dampier’s status remains uncertain after leaving the rivalry game with a lower-body injury, and Whittingham acknowledged that true freshman Byrd Ficklin could see first-team reps in practice.
“That’s a distinct possibility,” Whittingham added. “We’ll know more mid-week.”
Even if Dampier is limited, Whittingham emphasized that it’s his team — and that the staff will prioritize long-term health over short-term desperation.
Utah’s Availability Report
Though not listed, Utah’s previous players listed as “Out” are still out.
- Out: S Rabbit Evans, S Nate Ritchie, WR Daidren Zipperer, TE Hunter Andrews, DE Paul Fitzgerald, OL Isaiah Garcia
- Questionable: Devon Dampier, Tobias Merriweather, Dallas Vakalahi
Colorado’s Availability Report
The availability report is much longer for the Colorado Buffs. In total, there are 17 players listed as “Out” and four others that are at least “Questionable.”
- Out: WR Hykeem Williams, S Terrance Love, RB DeKalon Taylor, S TJ Branch, CB Kyle Carpenter, RB Simeon Price, TE Sav’ell Smalls, WR Carson Westbrook, OL Phillip Houston, OL Tyler Brown, OL Yahya Attia, OL Cooper Lovelace, OL Aki Ogunbiyi, WR Jack Hestera, DE Samuel Okunlola, DT Tavian Coleman, DT Gavriel Lightfoot
- DOUBTFUL: CB RJ Johnson
- QUESTIONABLE: DE Nikhil Webb Walker, DT Anquin Barnes Jr., DT Tawfiq Thomas
- PROBABLE: CB Teon Parks, S Carter Stoutmire, CB Braden Keith, LB Reginald Hughes, DT Amari McNeill, DE Brandon Davis-Swainek.
What’s at stake
For Utah, the matchup carries more than just bounce-back pride. A win keeps the Utes in the thick of the Big 12 race; a loss would mark back-to-back setbacks. Health could define their path, and all eyes will be on Dampier’s status this week.
Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.
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