SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) - It may be hard to believe, but since joining the Big 12 Conference in 2024, the Utes football team has not won a conference game at home.
When Kyle Whittingham heard that stat, he couldn't believe it either.
"[0-5] at Rice-Eccles? That sucks," Whittingham said to laughter in the press conference. "I wasn't aware of that. I probably should have been, but, OK. You lose and you're upset and you're mad. I guess you can delve into it further, but if that's the trend, we hope to break it this week."
Utah did beat Baylor last season, but that did not count as a conference game since it was scheduled before Utah joined the league.
The Utes enjoyed their first bye week of the season to rest up, get healthy and get ready for the 21st-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils this Saturday at home.
"This bye week was good for people to see their family," said Utes quarterback Devin Dampier. "We all love football, but we all do have lives outside of this. Just to have that time to go ahead and see family and the people you love, just great moments to cherish for sure."
"It was good to go back home to my family," added freshman wide receiver JJ Buchanan. "It's good to just take a little break from football, a two day break. I think it does a lot for you. Just taking a break from the whole game. Get your mind off it, and come back ready to go."
In their last game, Devon Dampier tore up West Virginia for five total touchdowns, bouncing back from his worst game the previous week against Texas Tech.
"I was just taking what the defense was giving us," said Dampier, who threw for four TD's while rushing for another score. "I think they allowed me to use my arm that game, and receivers got open for me. So when everybody's clicking, I'm clicking also."
"We needed that for sure," added Buchanan. "We had a great week of practice, and that's why we came out like that. We were throwing and catching the ball a lot better, which opens up the run game."
Dampier has found his go-to receiver, and it's his same go-to guy when he was at New Mexico, Ryan Davis, who is among the nation's leaders with 36 receptions in five games.
"He's got exceptional hands," Whittingham said about Davis. "He runs exceptional routes. I use the term crafty. He's not necessarily the biggest guy, the fastest guy, but he's got such a great feel and natural instincts for finding open space sitting down in those areas. "Also his rapport with with Devin is a big reason."
Like Utah, Arizona State is 4-1, and have won its last two games over Baylor and TCU by a total of six points. The Sun Devils are led by quarterback Sam Leavitt, as well as one of the top receivers in the country in Jordan Tyson, and the leading rusher in the Big 12, Raleek Brown.
"They're making plays when they need to be made," Whittingham said. "They've played in some tight games this year, and they have done a good job of of pulling those games out. All I can say is that when the time comes at the end of the game and things get tough, they they make plays."
"They're a good team," said Dampier. "Obviously they're one of those contenders that can win the Big 12 also. So, it's a huge game for us to go in and prove ourselves as well."
Utah and Arizona State will kick off at 8:15 p.m. Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium.