Live coverage of Utah’s opener against Idaho

Published: Sept 3, 2026, 6:39 p.m. MDT

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Utah Utes head coach Morgan Scalley walks on the field during warmups before an NCAA football game against the Idaho Vandals at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. Tess Crowley, Deseret News

By Hayden Madson

Hayden is a general assignment intern who covers politics, Utah culture and other trending news.

Halftime

Utah 31, Idaho 7

Utah controlls the game going into halftime against their FCS opponent.

Heading into halftime, Parker has three touchdowns to go along with 53 rushing yards. Dampier passed for three touchdowns as Utes put together 252 total yards of offense in the first half.

Idaho has struggled to put together much offense, but did muster a touchdown from Kincheloe. The Vandals have yet to reach triple digits with just 95 total yards of offense in the first half accompanied by two turnovers in their own territory.

00:32 — Parker gets his second touchdown catch of the night.

Parker gets his third touchdown of the night to make it Dampier’s third passing TD through the air. Utah 31, Idaho 7.

#GoUtes | #RSNB | 📺 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/FEEmjrDOVj
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 4, 2026

4:39 — Seven yard reception for Braden Pegan makes it seven straight games with multiple passing touchdowns for Devon Dampier.

The reception marks the Utah State transfer’s first touchdown in a Utah uniform. Utah 24, Idaho 7.

#GoUtes | #RSNB | 📺 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/rPYlUIO9Wq
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 4, 2026

9:40 — The Vandals run it up the middle for their first score of the night.

Hayden Kincheloe runs it through the Utah defense to bring the score within 10 again. Utah 17, Idaho 7.

Hayden Kincheloe is THAT MAN 👊 pic.twitter.com/IatmGASgvt
— Idaho Football (@VandalFootball) September 4, 2026

First Quarter

Utah 17, Idaho 0

1:07 — Parker runs 21 yards for his second touchdown of the game.

The touchdown is the running back’s first multi-touchdown game since Baylor last season. Utah 17, Idaho 0.

#GoUtes | #RSNB | 📺 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/2xtLrDo7gQ
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 4, 2026

10:40 — After a fumble recovery by Rabbit Evans on the Idaho 12 yard line, Utah puts three up with a chip-shot field goal from the 14. Utah 10, Idaho 0.

12:40 — It didn’t take long. The Utes are on the board.

Wayshawn Parker with the short receiving touchdown for the Utes’ first score of the season. Utah 7, Idaho 0.