Las Vegas • It’s been a busy few weeks for the Utah Utes.
Kyle Whittingham stepped down and left for Michigan. Morgan Scalley has since stepped up as Utah’s next head coach.
Rumors have been swirling about a potential exodus of Utah’s assistant coaches, including offensive coordinators Jason Beck, and players leaving for the Wolverines.
But even with all the distractions, the No. 15 Utes still took care of business, defeating Nebraska 44-22 on New Year’s Eve.
“I would say the biggest thing I want to emphasize is there have been so many distractions for these players,” Scalley said postgame. “The game is all about them, and so they’re the ones that don’t deserve all the distractions.”
Junior quarterback Devon Dampier finished the contest with five total touchdowns to go with 310 passing yards and 148 rushing yards.
Nebraska jumped out to a 14-7 lead over Utah in the first quarter following a 38-yard rushing score from running back Mekhi Nelson and an 8-yard touchdown score from quarterback TJ Lateef.
Utah’s lone score in the first quarter came on a 2-yard run from Dampier.
Dampier and the Utes tied the game up 14-14 when the junior quarterback lasered it to tight end JJ Buchanan on a 20-yard slant touchdown with 10:05 until halftime.
Utah took a 17-14 lead with 4:13 remaining in the first quarter after kicker Dillon Curtis scored a 28-yard field goal, which capped off a 10-play, 50-yard drive.
From there, Dampier continued his dominance. A series later — after the Ute defense forced a punt — the junior quarterback found pay dirt once again, scoring his second rushing touchdown of the game. His touchdown gave the Utes a 24-14 advantage at intermission.
(John Locher | AP) Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Nebraska during the first half of the Las Vegas Bowl, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Las Vegas.
Utah opened the floodgates on the Cornhuskers in the second half. Running back NaQuari Rodgers scored on a 3-yard rush to start the third quarter. Dampier added another touchdown to his total on a five-yard rush up the middle with 5:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Midway through the fourth, a 17-yard pass to Dallen Bentley made it 44-14.
With the season officially over, Utah and Scalley will pivot to the offseason as the NCAA transfer portal opens on Friday.
“I think it would have been a lot harder had we not had a great culture already established with the players really understanding the role they’re leading,” Scalley said. “There’s a lot to being a head football coach, particularly at a time when the portal is about to open and you’ve got things going on left and right.
“These guys have kept it all together.”