TUCSON, Ariz. – Devon Dampier ran for two scores and threw for two more, including a game-winning, 70-yard scoring strike with 2:35 to play and the No. 2 Utah football team pulled out a 40-39 victory over No. 23 Arizona in front of 48,858 at Casino Del Sol Stadium on Saturday night.

The Utes remain unbeaten and are one of just two remaining undefeated teams in the FBS. Utah is 10-0 for just the third time in school history and stays in first place in the Big 12 at 7-0. Arizona falls to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in conference action.

After a slow start, the Utes outgained the Wildcats 155-106 in the second quarter and Utah's final two drives of the half both ended with touchdown runs by Dampier. Dampier led all players in yards from scrimmage in the opening half by piling up 75 on the ground and finished with exactly 100 yards rushing, his second 100-yard rushing performance of the season.

In the second half, Dampier and the Utes overcame three different deficits, the last coming on his 70-yard connection to Creed Whittemore to give the visitors the lead for good. Utah's quarterback finished with 204 yards through the air on 13-of-25 passing and logged multiple scoring throws for the ninth time in 10 games.

Daniel Bray had a standout performance, setting a career-high with 197 yards rushing, 218 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. His rushing total was the most by a Utah player since Zack Moss put up 203 yards against Arizona on Nov. 23, 2019. As a team, the Utes rushed for 296 yards against a rush defense that was allowing an average of just 125.8 yards per game.

Whittemore had his best day as a Ute, setting a career high with 92 yards receiving on five catches, finding the end zone for the first time in 2026. Braden Pegan contributed three grabs for 52 yards. Utah ended the night with 500 yards of total offense, the fourth time this season they've hit that number.

Defensively, Cyrus Polu recorded two sacks Elijah Elliss added another. Rabbit Evans was credited with a team-high seven stops and Ethan Day set a season-best with six tackles. Jackson Bennee defended two passes, including one on a fourth-and-two that ended Arizona's final possession of the game. In the final quarter, Utah's defense limited the Wildcats to 75 total yards, including minus-7 rushing, and denied them on all four of their third down conversion attempts.

UP NEXT
Utah wraps up its road slate on Saturday, Nov. 21 at TCU. The game time and broadcast designation are to be announced.