For years, the football team at the University of Utah could be counted on as one of the toughest, most physical teams around, as it took on the identity of long-time head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Now, for the first time since 2004, Whittingham won’t be the head coach in Salt Lake City. Yet, the Utes have replaced him with a man who has even more history with the school.
This summer, BuffZone is previewing each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2026 season and in this installment, we look at Utah. CU will host the Utes on Oct. 17 at Folsom Field.
With Whittingham – who went 177-88 in 21 seasons at Utah – now the head coach at Michigan, Morgan Scalley has taken over the Utes’ program.
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) passes the ball as Utah offensive lineman Caleb Lomu (71) and Utah offensive lineman Jaren Kump (68) blocks during the second half of an NCAA college football game against BYU, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Although 20 years younger than Whittingham, the 46-year-old Scalley has known nothing but Utah throughout his life. The Salt Lake City native grew up going to Utah football and basketball games. Both of his parents went to Utah, and his dad played football for the Utes.
Scalley later played defensive back for the Utes from 2001-04 and then joined the coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2007. He’s been on the Utes’ staff ever since, including the past 10 seasons as defensive coordinator.
“I believe in this place,” Scalley said in an interview with KSL Sports in early June. “There’s a reason I stuck around. I believe we can win championships here at the highest level.”
Whittingham led Utah’s transition to the power conference level, when it joined the Pac-12 (with CU) in 2011 and then guided the Utes through a transition to the Big 12 in 2024. He turned the Utes into of the most consistent programs in the country.
This year, Utah not only has a new head coach, but will have a very different roster. Just two starters are back on offense and three on defense from a team that went 11-2 and won its last six games.
Scalley, however, knows the Utah culture and that hasn’t changed. He said his goal is for the culture and tough, physical mentality of the program to remain intact.
“That the culture shows up on the field,” he said of his goal. “Ultimately, if the culture is good enough the results should speak for themselves. A lot of focus on behavior; what behavior wins games, what behavior wins championships.”
Utah lost all five starting offensive linemen, but guards Solatoa Moea’i and Keith Olson both played at least 295 snaps last year. The Utes bolstered the group through the portal and with the addition of five-star recruit Kelvin Obot, listed by 247Sports as the highest-rated recruit in Utah’s history.
The Utes also return starting quarterback Devon Dampier and his talented backup Byrd Ficklin, who filled in for an injured Dampier in leading the Utes to a 53-7 rout of CU last year.
“I’m excited about both quarterbacks,” Scalley said on Big 12 Today this spring. “Both of them have continued to develop during the offseason.”
Also back is All-Big 12 running back Wayshawn Parker and his backup Daniel Bray. Both averaged at least 6.6 yards per carry last year.
Scalley added that the receiving corps, boosted through the transfer portal, is “better than we’ve ever had here at the University of Utah.”
Defensively, Scalley has set the tone for Utah over the past decade and he’ll hand the keys to that unit to Colton Swan, who has been the linebackers coach for the past seven seasons.
“Ultimately we have the same philosophy, so not much is going to change schematically,” Scalley said on Big 12 Today. “It’s all about the players. Good players make good coaches. I think you’re going to see consistency there, just new faces.”
Linebacker Johnathan Hall, safety Jackson Bennee and cornerback Elijah Davis are back to lead the way. Hall led the team with 67 tackles last year, while Bennee and Davis combined for six interceptions.
Several players who have been with the program, as well as a few transfers, will play key roles, as well, on defense.
While much has changed, much is expected to stay the same at Utah, which will go into the season as one of the favorites to contend for the Big 12 title.
Utah safety Jackson Bennee (23) takes his stance during an NCAA football game against UCLA on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Utah Utes
Head coach: Morgan Scalley, 1st season
2025 season: 11-2, 7-2 Big 12; defeated Nebraska in Las Vegas Bowl
Series with CU: Utah leads 36-33-3
Matchup with the Buffs: Saturday, Oct. 17, time TBD, at Folsom Field in Boulder
3 Guys to Watch
DB Jackson Bennee: One of the top safeties in the Big 12, he posted 64 tackles, four tackles for loss, four interceptions (one he returned for a touchdown), five pass breakups and two blocked kicks last year.
QB Devon Dampier: Named the Big 12’s offensive newcomer of the year in 2025 after transferring from New Mexico. He completed 63.5% of his passes for 2,490 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions last year, while rushing for 835 yards and 10 scores.
RB Wayshawn Parker: Third-team All-Big 12 last year after rushing for 981 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns.
Notables
Scalley made his head coaching debut in the Utes’ 44-22 win against Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31. … Kevin McGiven is the new offensive coordinator. He was the OC at Utah State last year and his career also includes stops at San Jose State and Oregon State. … This will be the 16th consecutive season that CU will play Utah, the longest active streak against one opponent. CU has played Arizona the last 15 years, but the Wildcats aren’t on the schedule this year. … Kicker Dillon Curtis was 11-for-15 on field goals last year as a freshman, while punter Orion Phillips averaged 42.3 yards on his 38 punts, putting 15 inside the 20-yard line. … Utah lost 20 players to the transfer portal, five of which followed Whittingham to Michigan. That group includes standout edge rusher John Henry Daley, defensive lineman Jonah Lea’ea, cornerback Smith Snowden and receiver JJ Buchanan. The Utes also lost safety Tao Johnson (UCLA) and two players to CU: quarterback Isaac Wilson and cornerback Jason Stokes Jr. … The Utes brought in 17 transfers, including potential starting offensive linemen Cedric Jefferson (Montana State) and Isaiah Kema (Ohio State), projected starters at receiver in Braden Pegan (Utah State) and Kyri Shoels (San Jose State), defensive tackle Jireh Moe (San Jose State) and cornerback Elijah Reed (Akron).