Utah Beats BYU as Four Interceptions Doom Cougars

Utah erased a six-point halftime deficit and beat BYU 28-20 inside Salt Lake City's Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 7, ending a three-game losing streak in the rivalry. The third-ranked Utes improved to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the Big 12, while BYU fell to 7-2 and 4-2.

Quarterback Devon Dampier accounted for all four Utah touchdowns, throwing for two scores and running for two more. He finished with 264 yards of offense. Utah opened with two touchdowns in its first seven plays, taking a 14-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.

BYU rallied in the second quarter, scoring 20 unanswered points to go ahead at halftime. Bear Bachmeier connected with Legend Glasker for a 75-yard touchdown, and LJ Martin ran in a four-yard score. But Utah’s defense held the Cougars scoreless after the break, forced three turnovers and limited them to 111 second-half yards.

Bachmeier passed for 272 yards and one score, adding 59 on the ground, but his four interceptions proved decisive. Two came in the fourth quarter, including one to Trey Reynolds after BYU reached Utah’s two-yard line with the Cougars trailing by eight. Nate Ritchie intercepted Bachmeier again in the end zone in the closing seconds.

Utah remains in the College Football Playoff picture, while BYU’s loss leaves its playoff prospects in serious jeopardy. BYU hosts Baylor next; Utah visits Arizona.