The No. 17 ranked Utah football team was scheduled to finish a three-game homestand at Rice-Eccles Stadium against Utah State on Saturday, Sept. 19. The matchup between the Utes and the Aggies was set for a 1:30 p.m. MT kickoff with live coverage on FOX.
Utah entered the matchup with a defense that had allowed only 24 total points through the first two games of the season. The team's pass defense recorded 13 pass breakups against Arkansas, which was the second-highest single-game total in program history and the most since 1998. Elijah Reed and James Chenault were both credited with multiple pass breakups during that game.
Offensively, quarterback Devon Dampier led the Big 12 in passing efficiency with a 195.7 rating. He had thrown for five touchdowns on 42 attempts through the first two games. Running back Wayshawn Parker tied for the FBS lead with six total touchdowns, including three rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns.
The Utes were looking to extend a streak of eight consecutive games scoring 30 or more points, a streak dating back to the 2025 season. The team also sought to sweep its nonconference slate for the fourth consecutive season.
