# 2026 Utah Utes football team
The 2026 [Utah Utes football](https://www.edgepedia.org/utah-utes-football) team represents the [University of Utah](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-utah) in the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a member of the [Big 12 Conference](https://www.edgepedia.org/big-12-conference). It is the first season under head coach Morgan Scalley, who took over the program in the 2025–26 offseason, and the team plays its home games at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.[1](https://www.sltrib.com/sports/utah-utes/2025/12/10/utah-utes-college-football/) • [2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) Through its first five games Utah is 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play, ranked in the AP Top 15 after entering the season at No.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Morgan Scalley, first season as head coach[1](https://www.sltrib.com/sports/utah-utes/2025/12/10/utah-utes-college-football/) |
| Record (through Oct 10, 2026) | 5-0 overall, 2-0 Big 12; home 4-0, away 1-0[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Home stadium | Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Preseason ranking | No. 21 in the preseason AP Top 25[3](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/2026/08/21/utah-utes-big-12-football/ab90ec1c-9d48-11f1-9cc4-2dc9b46e2d5c_story.html) |
| Scoring streak | 30-plus points in 11 straight games dating to 2025, the longest streak in the nation[4](https://utahutes.com/news/2026/10/11/football-no-12-utah-races-past-kansas-moves-to-5-0) |
| Leading returning rusher | Wayshawn Parker, who led Utah with 981 rushing yards in 2025[3](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/2026/08/21/utah-utes-big-12-football/ab90ec1c-9d48-11f1-9cc4-2dc9b46e2d5c_story.html) |
| Championship game | Big 12 Championship Game, Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas[5](https://utahutes.com/news/2026/1/21/big-12-conference-announces-2026-football-schedule) |
## Coaching staff
Scalley, previously the program's defensive coordinator, leads a staff that includes Kevin McGiven as offensive coordinator and [Colton Swan](https://www.edgepedia.org/colton-swan) as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.[6](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/roster) Sharrieff Shah serves as associate head coach, cornerbacks coach, and special teams coordinator, and Mark Atuaia is assistant head coach and running backs coach.[6](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/roster) Coaching the various position groups are Jordan Gross, who handles the offensive line; Chad Bumphis, in charge of wide receivers; Luke Wells, responsible for tight ends; Luther Elliss, working with defensive tackles; Inoke Breckterfield, overseeing defensive ends; Derrick Odum, leading the safeties; and Ryan Gunderson, coaching the quarterbacks.[6](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/roster)
## Roster
The roster blends returning starters with transfer additions. Senior quarterback [Devon Dampier](https://www.edgepedia.org/devon-dampier), a transfer from [New Mexico](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-mexico), wears number 4 and was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 15 watch list in October 2026.[6](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/roster) • [7](https://utahutes.com/sports/football) Junior running back Wayshawn Parker, a transfer from Washington State, anchors the backfield.[6](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/roster) • [3](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/2026/08/21/utah-utes-big-12-football/ab90ec1c-9d48-11f1-9cc4-2dc9b46e2d5c_story.html) Transfer wide receivers on the roster include Kyri Shoels (San Jose State), Creed Whittemore (Mississippi State), and Braden Pegan (Utah State).[6](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/roster)
Roster construction followed an unusual offseason. The NCAA consolidated what had been winter and spring transfer windows into a single window that opened January 2, and Utah, under its new head coach, worked the portal to replenish the roster.[8](https://static.ksl.com/article/51417344/tracking-utah-footballs-personnel-changes-as-2026-roster-takes-shape) • [1](https://www.sltrib.com/sports/utah-utes/2025/12/10/utah-utes-college-football/) Departures included projected starting receiver Zacharyus Williams, who left for USC in the spring portal.[9](https://www.si.com/college/utah/football/3-areas-utah-football-can-improve-in-2026)
## Schedule and results
The Big 12 Conference announced the full 2026 schedule on January 21, 2026.[5](https://utahutes.com/news/2026/1/21/big-12-conference-announces-2026-football-schedule) Utah opened with three home nonconference games, then began conference play with a road win at Iowa State and a home win over Kansas.[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text)
| Date | Opponent | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3 | Idaho | Rice-Eccles Stadium | W 66-14[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Sep 12 | Arkansas | Rice-Eccles Stadium | W 43-10[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Sep 19 | Utah State | Rice-Eccles Stadium | W 33-0[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Sep 26 | Iowa State | Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa | W 31-17[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Oct 10 | Kansas | Rice-Eccles Stadium | W 41-24[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Oct 17 | Colorado | Folsom Field, Boulder, Colo. | Scheduled, 8:15 p.m.[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Oct 24 | No. 20 Houston | Rice-Eccles Stadium | Scheduled[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Oct 31 | Cincinnati | Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio | Scheduled[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Nov 7 | No. 8 BYU | Rice-Eccles Stadium | Scheduled[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Nov 14 | Arizona | Casino Del Sol Stadium, Tucson, Ariz. | Scheduled[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Nov 21 | TCU | Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas | Scheduled[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Nov 27 | West Virginia | Rice-Eccles Stadium | Scheduled, 7 p.m.[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
| Dec 4 | Big 12 Championship Game | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas | Scheduled, 6 p.m.[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) |
The November 7 home game against BYU, the in-state rivalry known as the Holy War, matches two teams placed in the top four of KSL Sports' preseason Big 12 rankings.[10](https://sports.ksl.com/ncaa/big-12-football-2026-preseason-ranking/575310)
## Season to date
**Start under Scalley.** Utah opened with a 66-14 win over Idaho on September 3, then beat Arkansas 43-10 and shut out Utah State 33-0 in successive home games.[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text) Its first road test, at Iowa State on September 26, ended in a 31-17 win.[2](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text)
**Kansas game.** The 12th-ranked Utes built an early lead and pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Kansas 41-24 before 51,467 fans at a sold-out Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 10.[4](https://utahutes.com/news/2026/10/11/football-no-12-utah-races-past-kansas-moves-to-5-0) Wayshawn Parker rushed for 171 yards including a career-long 90-yard touchdown, the longest play of Utah's season, and Parker and Devon Dampier combined for six touchdowns.[4](https://utahutes.com/news/2026/10/11/football-no-12-utah-races-past-kansas-moves-to-5-0) The win moved Utah to 5-0 and to No.
## Context and expectations
Utah entered the season ranked No. A Washington Post preview published August 21, 2026 identified the skill positions, linebackers, and secondary as strengths and the trenches and receiver corps as weaknesses.[3](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/2026/08/21/utah-utes-big-12-football/ab90ec1c-9d48-11f1-9cc4-2dc9b46e2d5c_story.html) The program also carried momentum from 2025, when Utah led Power Four football and ranked second in FBS with 97 carries of 10 or more yards.[12](https://s3.amazonaws.com/big12sports.com/documents/2026/1/21/2025_Big_12_Football_End_of_Season_Release.pdf)
## References
1. [Utah Utes college football transfer portal tracker for the 2026 season, The Salt Lake Tribune](https://www.sltrib.com/sports/utah-utes/2025/12/10/utah-utes-college-football/)
2. [2026 Football Schedule, University of Utah Athletics](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/schedule/text)
3. [Morgan Scalley looking to build on past successes to make No. 21 Utah a Big 12 contender, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/2026/08/21/utah-utes-big-12-football/ab90ec1c-9d48-11f1-9cc4-2dc9b46e2d5c_story.html)
4. [No. 12 Utah Races Past Kansas, Moves to 5-0, University of Utah Athletics](https://utahutes.com/news/2026/10/11/football-no-12-utah-races-past-kansas-moves-to-5-0)
5. [Big 12 Conference Announces 2026 Football Schedule, University of Utah Athletics](https://utahutes.com/news/2026/1/21/big-12-conference-announces-2026-football-schedule)
6. [2026 Football Roster, University of Utah Athletics](https://utahutes.com/sports/football/roster)
7. [Football, University of Utah Athletics](https://utahutes.com/sports/football)
8. [Tracking Utah football's personnel changes as 2026 roster takes shape, KSL.com](https://static.ksl.com/article/51417344/tracking-utah-footballs-personnel-changes-as-2026-roster-takes-shape)
9. [3 areas Utah Football can improve in 2026, Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/college/utah/football/3-areas-utah-football-can-improve-in-2026)
10. [Big 12 football 2026 preseason ranking, KSL Sports](https://sports.ksl.com/ncaa/big-12-football-2026-preseason-ranking/575310)
11. [Where did BYU and Utah land in the preseason Associated Press top 25 rankings?, Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/where-did-byu-utah-land-162412887.html)
12. [Big 12 in the Polls, Big 12 Conference end-of-season release](https://s3.amazonaws.com/big12sports.com/documents/2026/1/21/2025_Big_12_Football_End_of_Season_Release.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › College, minor, and international American football › College football programs › 2026 season articles › FBS team season articles › Power Four conference teams*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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