No. 15 Utah Brings Two-Quarterback Look to Iowa State's Big 12 Opener
The short version
- No. 15 Utah plays at Iowa State on Sept. 26 in the Cyclones' Big 12 opener.
- Devon Dampier has 690 passing yards, seven passing TDs and two rushing scores this season.
- Byrd Ficklin adds 166 passing yards, 117 rushing yards and three combined touchdowns.
- Utah averages 47.3 points per game and has been sacked twice this year.
- Iowa State's defense has struggled against mobile quarterbacks in recent seasons.
Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin give 15th-ranked Utah a dual-threat quarterback rotation that Iowa State must solve in its conference opener.
No. 15 Utah visits Jack Trice Stadium on Sept. 26 for Iowa State's first Big 12 game of the season, bringing a two-quarterback system built around dual-threat players Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin. Dampier serves as the primary quarterback after transferring from New Mexico, where his play last season helped Utah finish 11-2 and lead the Big 12 in scoring at 41.3 points per game.
This season Dampier has completed 71.6% of his passes for 690 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception across wins over Idaho, Arkansas and Utah State, adding 114 rushing yards and two scores. Ficklin, used more in a gadget role, has hit 9 of 17 throws for 166 yards and two touchdowns while running for 117 yards and a score. Together they have powered Utah to 47.3 points per game, and the Utes have been sacked only twice.
Mobile quarterbacks have troubled Iowa State in recent years. Jeff Sims racked up 235 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Arizona State last season, and in 2024 UCF's Jacurri Brown combined with running back R.J. Harvey for 350 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a narrow Cyclones win.
Linebacker Beau Goodwin said the key is containing and trusting the defensive line to pressure the quarterback. Defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit added that the scheme assigns players beyond the line to track scrambling quarterbacks in the pass game. Head coach Jimmy Rogers said the defense must play sound assignment football because either quarterback can keep the ball or hand it away on any play.
Utah also lines up both quarterbacks at times or motions them so a specific one takes the snap, with Wayshawn Parker at running back and receivers Braden Pagan and Noah Bennee adding further weapons for the Cyclones to account for.
