Utah

Dampier is the clearest reason for optimism. Joe Coles reported that he is healthy after surgery for a sports hernia, one of two injuries that limited him in 2025. Even while managing the hernia and an ankle problem, Dampier passed for 2,490 yards, rushed for 835 and accounted for 34 touchdowns. McGiven’s approach should preserve the quarterback’s running threat while giving him more ways to diagnose defenses before the snap. The challenge is expanding the passing game without overloading a quarterback whose recent health and new protection remain connected concerns.

Parker gives that offense another established centerpiece after rushing for 981 yards at 6.58 per carry. Coaches have expanded his receiving role, which could punish defenses for focusing too heavily on Dampier’s legs. Utah also added Braden Pegan, Kyri Shoels and Ricky Johnson to a receiver group that returns Creed Whittemore, Larry Simmons and Tobias Merriweather. Scalley has called it potentially his best Utah receiver room, though the pecking order is still forming. At tight end, Noah Bennee left spring as the reported favorite for the top role, but the group has not yet produced an established featured target.

The offensive line is the pivotal variable. Utah is replacing all five starters, including first-round tackles Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, from a group that powered record rushing production. The likely replacements are largely upperclassmen with reserve experience, joined by Montana State transfer Cedric Jefferson, while Solatoa Moea’i and freshman Kelvin Obot were reported in a guard competition. Individual experience helps, but line play depends on five players communicating and moving together. Until that combination settles, Utah cannot assume last season’s protection or rushing efficiency will carry over.

Scalley faces a parallel reconstruction on defense, where every starting lineman also departed. Karson Kaufusi and Pupu Sepulona are expected to take larger interior roles, with Jireh Moe, Lance Holtzclaw and Kash Dillon among the options around them. That front must address the run-defense slippage Utah experienced late in 2025. Behind it, Johnathan Hall offers an important stabilizer after leading the team with 67 tackles. His command of the defense, supplemented by Trey Reynolds’ starting experience and Cyrus Polu’s promising spring, could help the Utes absorb mistakes while the front develops.

The secondary has a more settled foundation at safety than at cornerback. Jackson Bennee, a healthy Rabbit Evans and Nate Ritchie give Utah experienced safety options, while Scooby Davis and transfers Elijah Reed, James Chenault and Nick Brown are part of a less certain cornerback competition. That imbalance matters: reliable safety play can organize the back end and limit damaging errors, but it cannot replace dependable coverage on the outside. The final line combinations, cornerback rotation and tight-end hierarchy remain among the defining questions of fall camp.

The schedule gives Utah an initial runway and then raises the stakes. Idaho, Arkansas and Utah State visit Rice-Eccles Stadium before the Big 12 opener at Iowa State, giving the reconstructed units three home games to develop. Utah later hosts Kansas and Houston around a trip to Colorado, then visits Cincinnati before BYU arrives Nov. 7. Road games at Arizona and TCU follow before the home finale against West Virginia. That closing sequence will test depth and cohesion. If the lines stabilize, Dampier, Parker, Hall and the veteran safeties give Scalley a credible core. If they do not, Utah’s strengths will spend too much of the season compensating for its foundations.

Win probability

80%

Defensive havoc rate

16.9%

Front-seven havoc

9.9%