How to watch: Utah vs. Idaho, Utes’ 2026 season opener
Aug 31, 2026, 9:59 AM
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) passes the ball during an NCAA football game against Arizona State held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Isaac Hale, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Isaac Hale, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Morgan Scalley era officially begins Thursday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
No. 21 Utah will open its 2026 season against Idaho, giving Scalley his first regular-season game as the Utes’ head coach. Scalley coached Utah to a 44-22 victory over Nebraska in last season’s Las Vegas Bowl after being named Kyle Whittingham’s successor.
Here is everything you need to know to watch or listen to Utah’s season opener.
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How to watch Utah vs. Idaho
- Date: Thursday, Sept. 3
- Kickoff: 7 p.m. MDT
- Location: Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City
- TV: ESPNU
- Streaming: ESPN app with a participating television provider
- Play-by-play: Pete Sousa
- Analyst: Leger Douzable
How to listen to Utah vs. Idaho
The game will be carried on ESPN 700 AM and 92.1 FM.
- Play-by-play: Bill Riley
- Analyst: Stevenson Sylvester
- Sideline reporter: Zack Moss
- Satellite radio: SiriusXM Channel 83
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What to know about Utah
Utah enters Scalley’s first full season ranked No. 21 in the AP Top 25 and carrying heightened expectations after finishing 10-2 during the 2025 regular season.
Quarterback Devon Dampier returns after passing for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 835 yards and 10 scores, accounting for 34 total touchdowns during his first season with the Utes.
Running back Wayshawn Parker also returns after rushing for 981 yards and six touchdowns on 149 carries. Parker and Dampier give Utah an established foundation in the backfield as the Utes transition to Kevin McGiven as offensive coordinator.
Defensively, linebacker Johnathan Hall returns after leading Utah with 67 tackles and six tackles for loss in 2025. Safety Jackson Bennee, who finished second on the team with 64 tackles, is also back.
The opener will provide the first meaningful look at how Utah has evolved under Scalley. The program has emphasized greater depth and more deliberate player rotations throughout the offseason, particularly on defense.
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Utah’s success in season openers
Utah has won 10 of its last 11 season openers. The only loss during that stretch came at Florida in 2022, when the Utes fell 29-26 in Gainesville.
The Utes have also won 17 consecutive home openers at Rice-Eccles Stadium, excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Utah enters Thursday having sold out 95 consecutive games at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes are 25-6 at home over the last five seasons, an .806 winning percentage that ranks first among Big 12 programs during that span.
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Utah vs. Idaho series history
Thursday’s game will be the first meeting between Utah and Idaho since 1993.
The Vandals won that matchup 28-17 in Salt Lake City. Idaho leads the all-time series 22-10, although the programs have played only twice since 1952.
After facing Idaho, Utah will remain home for games against Arkansas on Sept. 12 and Utah State on Sept. 19. The Utes will play their first road game Sept. 26 at Iowa State.
Game information was announced by Utah Athletics.
