Nothing like a late night in the desert (after a turbulent morning).
In one of the most thrilling games of the 2026 season, No. 2 Utah remains undefeated − barely − getting past No. 21 Arizona 40-39 in a contest that features big plays and seven lead changes.
The weekend was already a turbulent one for the Utes; they were one of several teams affected by the Federal Aviation Administration’s nationwide ground stoppage on Friday, Nov. 13. By the time it was lifted, Utah unable to leave Salt Lake City the day before the game due to the pilot’s timing out.
So, the game was pushed back from a 5:30 p.m. local start to 8:30 p.m., with Utah arriving in Tucson roughly six hours before kickoff.
Not a lot of time to go through the full gameday prep, but no
problem for the Utes, who got all they could handle from their former Pac-12 mate.
Arizona jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the second quarter as the upset was brewing. Arizona's Noah Fifita was slinging it all across the field with a 356-yard passing performance that included three touchdowns.
Any time Utah responded, the Wildcats punched back.
In the final minutes, Noah Fifita found Isaiah Mizell for the go-ahead touchdown to go up 39-33. For a moment, it looked like the Utes were about to lose.
Then Utah's Superman came through again. Quarterback Devon Dampier capped off a magnificent outing by hitting Creed Whittemore near midfield for a catch-and run touchdown of 70 yards with just under three minutes to go. Needing a stop to madness, Utah's defense found its form, stopping the Wildcats on fourth down to get the ball back.
All Utah needed left was the dagger, and of course, Dampier delivered. He used his legs to get the much-needed first down, sealing the win with another statistical explosion.
He threw for 204 yards in the air and 100 more on the ground, accounting for four total touchdowns in a performance worthy of a trip for New York City and the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
Just one of two undefeated teams left in the country along UCLA, Utah has inched closer to its first College Football Playoff spot with another ranked win
The Utes are 10-0 for the first time since 2008, that same magical season that put them on the map as the first Bowl Championship Series buster.
Now 16 years later, they are back again for a whole lot more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Utah still on CFP track after rallying past Arizona in shootout to cap long travel day
