3 takeaways from Utah’s domination of Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl

The Morgan Scalley era got off to a slow start for Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl on Wednesday.

Once it got rolling, though, it was a show worthy of the bright lights in Vegas.

The No. 15 Utes overcame a slow first quarter before rolling to a 44-22 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Scalley’s first game as head coach.

The victory gives Utah 11 wins in a season for the first time since 2019.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

Devon Dampier shows off his passing chops and slices up Nebraska on the ground

Nebraska entered the contest ranked second in the country in passing yards allowed, giving up 141.1 per game.

Utah threw for more than that in the first half alone.

Devon Dampier completed 12 of 16 first-half passes for 210 yards and a touchdown, helping Utah build that 24-14 lead going into the break.

He ended up throwing for 310 yards and two touchdowns on 19 of 30 passing, with Dallen Bentley (six catches, 106 receiving yards) the main benefactor of his passing day.

Bentley scored on a 17-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap Utah’s scoring.

Dampier was dangerous on the ground as well, rushing for 148 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 7.8 yards per carry.

He accounted for two first-half rushing touchdowns — including an 11-yarder on third-and-9 in the final 30 seconds of the half — and added a third-quarter score on the ground.

Dampier’s 458 yards of total offense broke the Las Vegas Bowl record.

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Utah defense made adjustments and showcased Scalley’s savvy

The Utes’ new head coach has been the program’s defensive coordinator the past 10 years, and over the final three quarters, that unit showed off the football acumen Scalley brings to the huddle.

The Huskers scored touchdowns on their first two drives, but after that, the Utah defense locked down.

Over Nebraska’s next six possessions, which included a one-play kneeldown before halftime, the Utes forced five three-and-outs.

It wasn’t until Nebraska’s first possession of the fourth quarter, one that ended with a turnover on downs, that the Huskers reached Utah territory since the first quarter.

By then, the game was well in hand. Nebraska added a late touchdown drive to cut its deficit in half.

The Cornhuskers had 157 yards of total offense through one quarter, but just 40 over the next two quarters. In that stretch, Nebraska was 0 of 6 on third down.

Utes dominate the second quarter to take control

The Utes found themselves down 14-7 going into the second quarter after giving up two long Nebraska drives that were powered by the Huskers’ rushing attack.

Utah, though, took control of the contest in the second quarter, when it outscored Nebraska 17-0 and outgained the Huskers 198 yards to 17.

That helped Utah build up 300 yards of total offense in the first half.

That set the tone for a dominant third quarter as well, when the Utes tacked on two more touchdowns.

Utah had 138 yards of total offense in the third — 73 rushing and 65 passing — and took a 37-14 lead into the final quarter.