Dampier became the first Ute quarterback since Travis Wilson to rush for at least 100 yards in a game.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier (4) runs the ball for a touchdown during the game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at The University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.
The rain fell sideways.
Fans in ponchos got soaked in the stands.
And lightning kept players off the field for pregame warmups until after the field crew had dutifully squeegeed puddles of water to the sidelines.
But Utah quarterback Devon Dampier didn’t have any problems with the rain Saturday night.
Utah (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) defeated No. 21 Arizona State (4-2, 2-1) at Rice-Eccles Stadium. It was the Utes’ first conference win since joining the Big 12 last year.
Dampier led the way with 104 passing yards and 120 rushing yards for three touchdowns. He became the first Ute quarterback since Travis Wilson in 2015 to rush for at least 100 yards in a game.
“We know to move on and we know to respond,” Dampier said after the game. “A big motive going into this game that we wanted to bring a Big 12 conference win to [Rice-Eccles Stadium]. You saw how we came out. We came out with that energy for sure.”
ASU backup quarterback Jeff Sims, filling in for injured star quarterback Sam Leavitt, had 176 total yards on the night.
It wasn’t just Dampier that had a big night, however. Defensive back Smith Snowden held ASU star wide receiver Jordan Tyson to eight receptions and 40 yards.
Dampier and the Utes’ offense struck first on their 14-play, 75-yard opening drive. The junior quarterback gave the Utes a 7-0 lead on a 12-yard rush on a 4th-down keeper.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Two people stand under a large piece of plastic during the game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at The University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.
The Sun Devils scored a field goal to make it a 7-3 margin, after Sims missed Tyson on multiple red-zone deep shots.
After punting on its second drive, Utah got back to work in the second quarter. Dampier scampered into the end zone on another fourth-down run — his second time of the contest — to give Utah a 14-3 lead with 11:27 left in the second quarter.
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said that Devon Dampier was “hobbled” with an injury the last few games. The quarterback, according to Whittingham, is now back to being 100% healthy.
And it showed against ASU.
“He was been hobbled a little bit the last few weeks, but he’s back to 100%,” Whittingham said. “What you saw tonight is more of what he’s capable of. The offensive line was outstanding rush for almost 300 yards, and the offensive line is a big reason for that.”
Utah’s defense came up with a third-down stop late in the second quarter after Sims had an aired throw intended for Tyson. On the ensuing play, defensive back Jackson Bennee jumped over ASU’s field-goal unit to block a 29-yard kick.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier (4) runs the ball against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at The University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.
Six plays and 75 yards later, running back NaQuari Rodgers danced past ASU defenders for a 22-yard touchdown, giving Utah a 21-3 lead by the half.
Rodgers found pay dirt for the second time with 11 minutes left in the third quarter on a 2-yard run. ASU responded with a 4-yard score from Tyson, bringing the Sun Devils within a 28-10 margin.
With 55 seconds in the third, Dampier, once again, rolled over ASU’s defense for his third rushing score of the game on a 9-yard run. Backup freshman quarterback Byrd Ficklin added to Utah’s lead with another rushing touchdown, putting the game completely out of reach for ASU.
Next, the Utes will take on in-state rival No. 18 BYU (6-0, 3-0) at 6 p.m. MT next Saturday in Provo.