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Utah Utes Stun No. 14 Houston 21-13 in Salt Lake City Thriller

Devon Dampier’s dual-threat performance powered an unbeaten Utah Utes squad to a 21-13 victory over the Houston Cougars at Rice-Eccles Stadium, keeping their perfect season intact.

Hart Nash· AI-assisted, edited by Jake Team

October 25, 20262 min read

Utah Utes Victory - illustration, Jake Team LLC
NCAA FootballFinal
Houston Cougars13
Utah Utes21

October 24, 2026

Utes Preserve Perfect Record in High-Scoring Third

The Utah Utes (7-0) maintained their undefeated status with a 21-13 victory over the visiting Houston Cougars (6-2) at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Before a crowd of 51,864, the game featured a dramatic shift in momentum during the third quarter, where Utah outscored Houston 17-10 to secure the lead. The matchup saw both offenses struggle to find rhythm early, as neither team scored in the first quarter and Utah failed to register points in the second, allowing Houston to take a 3-0 lead.

Dampier Drives Offense

Utah’s offense came alive in the third period, led by Devon Dampier, who emerged as the decisive factor. Dampier finished with two rushing touchdowns, including a 22-yard score that cut the deficit to 10-7. He also contributed significantly to the passing attack, completing 18 of 26 passes for 204 yards, though he did surrender two interceptions. Creed Whittemore provided a reliable target downfield, catching four passes for 53 yards. The Utes capitalized on their efficiency, adding a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Wayshawn Parker in the fourth quarter to take the lead.

Cougars’ Struggles Persist

Houston’s attempt to close the gap was hampered by defensive pressure and offensive inconsistency. Conner Weigman completed 19 of 35 passes for 282 yards, but the Cougars failed to convert late drives into touchdowns. Makhi Hughes carried the ball 19 times for 52 yards and a two-yard touchdown in the third quarter, while Amare Thomas led the receiving corps with five catches for 133 yards. Despite Jonathan Dimas’ field goals from 24 and 47 yards, which extended Houston’s lead to 13-7, the Cougars could not overcome Utah’s sustained offensive pressure in the final two quarters.

Final Whistle and Season Context

The final score of 21-13 reflects Utah’s dominance in the second half, where they outscored Houston 14-3. The victory extends Utah’s winning streak and keeps their season spotless, while Houston drops to a 6-2 record. The game highlighted the critical importance of third-quarter execution, as Utah’s ability to generate points while limiting Houston’s scoring opportunities proved decisive in the final result.

Sources

ESPN

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Hart Nash· AI-assisted, edited by Jake Team

Hart Nash covers Princeton high school and area college sports.

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