Utah Overcomes Lethargic Effort Against Kansas To Secure 10th Win
Nov 28, 2025, 2:03 PM | Updated: 4:18 pm
Nov 28, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Utah Utes cornerback Elijah Davis (9) returns an interception for a touchdown during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
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SALT LAKE CITY — It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough. For three quarters, Utah looked like a team trying to shake off a Thanksgiving food coma. But when it mattered, the Utes found a switch and flipped it.
They outscored Kansas 21–7 in the fourth quarter to win 31–21, finishing the regular season 10–2. After enjoying some comfortable victories, Utah once again proved that grit and opportunism can still lead to wins.
🔴🔴🔴🔴
FinalUtah: 31
Kansas: 21#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/lx8tgB8MrC— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 28, 2025
After a sluggish three quarters filled with penalties and missed chances, Utah erupted for 21 points in the final 15 minutes, flipping a 14–10 deficit into a decisive win that kept its Big 12 title hopes alive on Black Friday.
Utah’s defense came away with three interceptions — including a 97-yard pick-six by Scooby Davis. On offense, quarterback Devon Dampier delivered two fourth-quarter touchdown strikes to Larry Simmons, including a gutsy call with 2:20 left which served as the knockout blow.
First Half: Defense Survives, Offense Sputters
Kansas opened the game by taking the ball and marching right downfield, aided by a pair of chunk runs from Jalon Daniels and a 25-yard screen to Cam Picket. But Utah’s Smith Snowden ended the threat by jumping a slant for his second interception of the season — a tone-setting play that gave the defense a much-needed jolt after a rough week against Kansas State.
Utah’s offense came out swinging. Wayshawn Parker ripped off runs of 34 and 15 yards on consecutive plays to set up an early field goal by Dillon Curtis, putting the Utes up 3–0.
Stat Leaders
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Devon Dampier: 15-of-25, 253 yards, 3 touchdowns
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Wayshawn Parker: 127 total yards, 95 yards on the ground, 32 receiving
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Larry Simmons: 3 receptions, 97 yards, 2 touchdowns
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Utah Defense: 3 interceptions (Snowden, Bennee, Davis),
Kansas responded with a punishing ground attack that gashed Utah’s front seven — running for 143 yards in the first half — before Daniel Hishaw punched in a short touchdown to make it 7–3. Utah countered when Jason Beck dialed up a pop-pass to J.J. Buchanan for a 58-yard touchdown, regaining the lead at 10–7.
The half ended with Utah clinging to that lead, though the first 30 minutes told the story: the Utes were sloppy (six penalties for 50 yards) and flat. They were being pushed around up front, especially on the defensive interior.
Third Quarter: Frustration and Missed Chances
Coming out of the locker room, Utah looked poised to seize momentum after Kansas kicked off out of bounds. Dampier orchestrated a promising drive. However, Utah faced another fourth-down conversion but an incompletion left Utah empty-handed — again. This was Utah’s second failed fourth-down conversion in enemy territory.
Kansas immediately capitalized. Daniels connected with Emmanuel Henderson Jr. for 34 yards and after a handful of success run plays, Daniels eventually sneaked in a touchdown to put the Jayhawks back on top, 14–10.
Then disaster nearly struck. On the next drive, Byrd Ficklin fumbled keeper, giving Kansas prime field position.
But the Utah defense, thanks to Blake Cotton’s critical pass breakup on 4th down, forced a turnover on downs. Utah wasn’t able to do anything with it though, punting four plays later.
Fourth Quarter: Opportunistic Utah Takes Over
It wasn’t until the fourth that Utah finally started to impose its will.
After giving up a long drive, the defense finally made a couple of stops putting Kansas in a critical 3rd & goal situation. Daniels sprinted out to his right and appeared to simply throw the ball away in the back of the end zone. However, Jackson Bennee was in position, to the surprise of everyone, and hauled in an easy interception in the back of the end zone.
That was a spark Utah needed. After a couple of positive gains, Dampier hit Parker in the flat, and he scampered for a big 32 yard gain to set up Utah deep in Kansas territory. Then, Dampier connected on a deep shot to Larry Simmons from 28 yards out, which capped a 65-yard drive, giving Utah a 17–14 lead.
Kansas responded with a strong drive, again, relying on the run game. With Kansas threatening in the red zone again, Scooby Davis then hauled an interception and returned it 97 yards for a pick-six, swinging the game.
It seemed like Davis delivered what looked like the knockout defensive play of the game.However, Kansas didn’t quit and put together another drive, which ended in a touchdown for Leyton Cure. Kansas briefly pulled within three, but Utah took possession with about 5:32 left and put together a drive that ate up clock.
Then, with 2:20 left, facing a 3rd & 5, Dampier faked a power run play and popped a pass to Simmons deep over the middle — this time for a 48-yard touchdown — perfectly set up by the previous three Dampeir run plays.
That sealed the deal on Utah’s 10th win of the season. This effort was far from perfect — allowing 477 yards and too many easy runs — but made the winning plays when it mattered.
