3 takeaways from Utah’s season-opening blowout win over UCLA

Utah and UCLA may no longer be conference rivals, but the Utes still know how to ransack their former Pac-12 mates.

Utah rolled to a 43-10 victory over the Bruins at the Rose Bowl late Saturday night in the 2025 season opener for both programs.

It was the Utah debut of quarterback Devon Dampier, who looked the part of one of the most dynamic signal callers in the nation.

Here are three takeaways from Utah’s dominant win.

Devon Dampier is entertaining and Utah’s offense is fun again

The first impression of Dampier was an incredible one.

From his first series to his last midway through the fourth quarter, Dampier and his dual-threat capabilities were the shining star of the night.

He made 2-yard gains entertaining and often extended plays with his legs and ability to elude defenders.

Dampier threw for 206 yards and two passing touchdowns on 21 of 25 throwing while adding 87 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on 16 carries.

The Utes ended up scoring on six of their first seven drives of the game before Dampier was pulled. Six of those ended in touchdowns.

All totaled, Utah put up 492 yards of total offense, including 286 on the ground.

In addition to Dampier’s rushing night, Wayshawn Parker ran for 62 yards and a touchdown with a team-high 5.6 yards-per-carry average, while NaQuari Rogers put up 61 yards and also scored a rushing touchdown.

That three-headed rushing machine, coupled with Utah’s dominant offensive line — arguably the best in the country — makes it look like the Utes will be able to run on most anybody with ease.

Utah dug deep into its two-way player well, too, with defenders Smith Snowden and Lander Barton both scoring touchdowns.

Snowden had a team-high six catches for 51 yards and three rushes for 15 yards and a touchdown, while Barton scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter.

After a couple seasons of offensive frustration for Utah, the season opener had to be a breath of fresh air for Ute fans.

Nico Iamaleava was frustrated by a stifling defense

Saturday’s game was supposed to be a star-studded QB matchup, with Tennessee transfer Nico Iamaleava leading the UCLA offense.

Instead, Iamaleava was clearly outplayed by Dampier.

Iamaleava ended up completing just 11 of 22 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown, along with a fourth-quarter interception that set up Utah’s final score of the night.

The Utes ended up sacking Iamaleava four times, including a 13-yard sack on the final play of the first quarter to end the Bruins’ second possession when things could have at least stayed more interesting.

While Iamaleava was able to finish with 47 rushing yards as he converted a variety of scrambles, the UCLA offense never got on track — and in particular, his passing game was never really on point, as the Utes shut him down.

UCLA ended up with 220 yards of total offense, with only 84 on the ground. The Bruins also converted just 2 of 11 third downs.

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The Utes made the plays on third down time and time again

Speaking of third downs, Utah was brilliant in that regard.

The Utes converted 14 of 16 third downs on the evening, as they often set themselves up in third and manageable situations and used their superior talent on the offensive line — and the decision-making of Dampier — to pick up first downs and extend drives.

Utah had four drives of 60 or more yards, and after UCLA trimmed its deficit to 23-10 early in the third quarter, the Utes slammed the door shut on the Bruins with a time-consuming drive that ended in the end zone.

Utah initially faced a first-and-20 from its own 10 on the possession after a rare penalty, but between Parker and Dampier, the Utes were able to chip it away to a third-and-9 situation.

Then, Dampier connected with Snowden, who fought his way past the first down marker to extend the drive when a stop could have given UCLA some momentum and decent field position.

Utah ended up converting four third downs on the drive before Dampier ran it in on a fourth-and-goal play at the 2-yard line.

The drive took 20 plays and covered 80 yards — 90 if you count the early penalty — while taking 9:47 off the clock.

The Utes ended up with a nearly 15-minute edge in time of possession.