The No. 10 Utah Utes extended the nation's longest winning streak to 13 games after rallying from a 10-0 deficit to defeat No. 14 Houston 21-13 on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The victory at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City marks the first ranked win for the Utes in 2026.
Quarterback Devon Dampier led the second-half comeback, rushing for 150 yards and two touchdowns while adding 204 passing yards. His mobility proved decisive during a 75-yard third-quarter drive that ended with a 22-yard scramble. Wayshawn Parker provided the Utes with their first lead with 11:57 remaining in the game on a direct snap into the end zone.
Utah's defense secured the win late in the fourth quarter when free safety Jackson Bennee sacked Houston's Conner Weigman and forced a fumble. Defensive tackle Jireh Moe recovered the ball at the Houston 9-yard line, setting up Dampier's 9-yard touchdown run with 2:09 remaining. This capped a 21-3 second-half run for the Utes.
Houston struggled following the loss of tight end Patrick Overmyer on the opening possession. The Cougars held a 10-0 lead at halftime, but defensive breakdowns and missed tackles prevented them from maintaining the advantage. Houston head coach Fritz noted that the team missed too many tackles during critical moments.
The win marks the seventh time Utah has started a season 7-0, a feat the program has not achieved since 2010. The Utes entered the matchup with an average of over 40 points per game prior to the game. Houston, now 6-2 and 3-2 in the Big 12, will move into a bye week following the defeat.
With the victory, Utah (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) has climbed into the top 6 of the AP Poll for the first time since 2019.
