Utah beat Houston 21-13 on Oct. 24, scoring all its points in the second half after going scoreless for the game’s first 40 minutes, John Brice reported for USA TODAY. In his Oct. 25 account, Brice called Morgan Scalley’s Utes the Big 12’s lone unbeaten team, with four one-loss teams behind them.
Houston intercepted quarterback Devon Dampier twice, but he ran for 150 yards on 15 carries, according to Brice’s game account. Safety Jackson Bennee forced a fumble before Dampier scored the game’s final touchdown.
Before the Houston game, Pete Thamel reported for ESPN that Scalley had taken over after Kyle Whittingham’s tenure and that coordinator Kevin McGiven had devised a two-quarterback system. The offense sometimes puts Dampier and Byrd Ficklin on the field together, with Ficklin also lining up at receiver or running back. Thamel also described Monday team meetings featuring “Culture Clips” that recognize players’ contributions, including sideline celebrations.
Brice framed the Houston win as part of Utah’s pursuit of a College Football Playoff bid. His Oct. 25 report listed a Halloween trip to Cincinnati next, followed by BYU and a road game at Arizona.
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