3 bold predictions for the 2026 Utah football season

by July 31, 2026

written by July 31, 2026

We’re officially one day away from August. This means football is back.

We’re approaching the sweet spot in Salt Lake City as the Utah Utes prepare to open fall camp ahead of the 2026 season. After an 11-win season, Morgan Scalley’s crew is determined to show there’s no letdown after Kyle Whittingham ran away to Michigan.

Needless to say, expectations for the Utes are high going into Scalley’s first year at the helm. Here are three bold predictions for Utah on their journey toward a first-ever Big 12 title.

Devon Dampier will have a monster year

After making the decision to stay with Scalley at Utah, Devon Dampier knew he was going to take command of the offense. He’s entering the upcoming season with a clear focus on the task at hand. Right off the bat, this is his time to impress NFL scouts and show what he can do under new offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven. Dampier is one of the reasons why Utah is viewed as a top 25 team entering the 2026 season.

Make no mistake about it, Utah lost a ton of talent. But they’re also in a good position because Dampier and others didn’t follow Whittingham when he left. Also, the Utes got some underrated transfers who will play critical roles this season.

How Dampier is able to help put it all together will be key. After throwing for nearly 2,500 yards and rushing for 835 yards with 34 total touchdowns, expect his numbers to improve from last year. Keep in mind, he accomplished what he did in 2025 with a double sports hernia and an ankle injury. Dampier is 100 percent healthy and ready to ride.

Scalley isn’t going to watch a talent like Ficklin stay on the bench or be entered in garbage time. Expect McGiven and Dampier to mix up the playbook with a few plays for the backup quarterback. He’s way too talented and will find his way out there this season. It would be fun to see him playing in open space as a receiver. Not to say it will happen, but once Ficklin turns on the jets, he’s hard to stop.

Utah will have another 11-win season

After a massive change in the Utes coaching staff, the best anyone would expect is a winning season to build momentum. However, Scalley and his staff might be the exception to the rule. There’s a good chance Utah will equal the 11-win season from last year. The schedule is set up for them to have initial success through the first eight games before hitting the Holy War rivalry on Nov. 7.

From there, Utah could coast to one or two losses in the regular season while missing the Big 12 title game. The other side of this comes down to beating BYU. If the Utes took care of business against the Cougars, it would look totally different. The possibility of a conference championship and trip to the College Football Playoff are on the table.