Utah Football Earns Multiple Big 12 Honors After Blowing Out UCLA
Sep 2, 2025, 2:11 PM | Updated: Sep 3, 2025, 11:43 am
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 30: Devon Dampier #4 of the Utah Utes rushes for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Devon Dampier will get the headlines after earning co-Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors in his first start with Utah football, but he wasn’t the only Ute to shine in a dominating Rose Bowl win over UCLA.
Along with Dampier, Utah’s offensive and defensive lines earned ‘Beef of the Week’ recognition after controlling the line of scrimmage in a 43-10 win.
The Big 12 Conference announced its weekly awards on Tuesday, September 2.
RELATED: McAfee On Utah QB Devon Dampier: “He’s Unstoppable, Absolutely Electrifying”
Headlines and highlights abound.#Big12FB | @Venmo pic.twitter.com/Qap0ejgYTi
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 2, 2025
Dampier, a 2024 All-Mountain West first-team performer, gave fans a reason to dream after last season’s dismal 5-7 finish.
The Phoenix, Arizona native completed 21-of-25 passes (84 percent) for 206 yards and two scores. The electrifying runner added 87 yards and a TD on the ground. He tied for the fourth-best completion percentage in program history.
RELATED STORIES
Utes control the trenches in Week 1
Coming into the season, most pundits agreed that Utah’s offensive line could and would position itself as one of the best five-man units in the nation.
The starting five of Caleb Lomu, Tanoa Togiai, Jaren Kump, Michael Mokofisi, and Spencer Fano kept Dampier clean in the pocket by not allowing a sack. The group also paved the way for 286 yards on the ground.
In stark contrast to Utah’s struggles in the red zone offensively in 2024, the Utes scored on all six red zone possessions against the Bruins.
RELATED: Utah’s Two-Way Stars Shone In 43-10 Win, What Does It Mean Moving Forward?
Owned the trenches 💪#Big12FB | @OldTrapper pic.twitter.com/V1gj5l460R
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 2, 2025
On the other side, the D-line helped limit UCLA to 220 yards of offense.
John Henry Daley finished with three tackles, two of which went for sacks. Behind him, Logan Fano had two tackles for a loss, including a sack. Utah had four sacks as a team.
Follow Utah football with KSL Sports
The Utes open their 2025 home schedule by hosting the Cal Poly Mustangs at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, September 6. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. MT.
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.
You can find KSL Sports coverage of the Utes here.
Are you on Threads yet? Let’s connect; follow us at @kslsports.
Take us with you wherever you go.
Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
