No. 2 Utah survived a late-night thriller against No. 23 Arizona on Sunday in Tucson, securing a wild 40-39 victory when Devon Dampier connected with Creed Whittemore on a 70-yard touchdown pass with just 2:25 remaining on the clock.
The Utes improved to 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the Big 12, though logistical chaos complicated their arrival. Due to an FAA ground stop on Friday, the team did not arrive in Tucson until just after noon, contributing to a sluggish start that saw them slip into an early 11-point deficit. Kickoff was pushed back three hours to 8:30 p.m. local time.
Arizona (7-3, 4-3) hosted its highest-ranked opponent since No. 2 Oregon visited in 2007. The Wildcats leaned into the high-octane atmosphere following a dramatic win over TCU the previous week, setting the stage for a chaotic second half reminiscent of late-night conference shootouts.
Quarterbacks Trade Blows in High-Stakes Duel
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita kept the pressure on the visitors all night, throwing for 356 yards and three touchdowns. His second scoring strike to Isaiah Mizell went for 10 yards, pushing the Wildcats ahead 39-33 with just over three minutes left in regulation.
Dampier answered immediately for Utah. He finished the contest with 204 yards and two touchdowns through the air while adding 100 yards and two additional scores on the ground. His deep ball to Whittemore swung the lead back to the Utes.
Daniel Bray anchored the ground game for the visitors with 197 rushing yards, keeping the offense moving despite the early disruptions.
Defense Seals Win for Utes
With a one-point lead late in the fourth quarter, Utah’s defense stepped up to slam the door. A fourth-down stop sealed the outcome, extending the program's winning streak to 16 games across two seasons.
The victory marks 12 straight conference wins for the Utes, solidifying their path toward the Big 12 title game and a prime position in the College Football Playoff race.
The Utes return to action next week as they look to maintain their unblemished record heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
