Utes Stampede Buffaloes in Homecoming Victory

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah football team put together a dominant performance on Saturday night, demolishing the Colorado Buffaloes, 53-7, behind an overpowering run game in front of 51,949 fans at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Utah improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big 12 Conference play, while Colorado dropped to 3-5 and 1-4 in the Big 12.

Utah put up 587 yards of total offense on the night, including a season-high 422 rushing yards, while limiting Colorado to 140 yards of offense. Utah averaged 7.7 yards per play and held the visitors to an average of 2.1 yards. The Utes' 587 yards of offense are the most by the program since totaling 662 against the Buffaloes in 2022.

The Utes' 422 rushing yards are the seventh-most in program history. Utah's rushing total marks just the ninth time in program history the Utes have ran for 400-plus yards in a game and the second time under Kyle Whittingham, last doing so against Stanford in 2021.

Byrd Ficklin made his first collegiate start at quarterback, rushing for 151 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries and completing 10-of-22 passes for 140 yards and two scores. He joins Devon Dampier and Travis Wilson as the only quarterbacks in Utah history to both pass and rush for 100 yards in a game in program history.

Ficklin's 151 rushing yards are the most by a Utah quarterback since at least 1996, topping Wilson's 143 yards in 2013. His 151 rushing yards in the first half marked the most by a Utah signal-caller in a half. Ficklin and Dampier also became the first pair of Utah quarterbacks to rush for 100 yards in a game in the same season in program history after Dampier did so against Arizona State.

Wayshawn Parker also recorded his first 100-yard game as a Ute, rushing 10 times for 145 yards and a touchdown. Saturday marked the first time since Utah faced Colorado in 2021 that two Utes rushed for 100-plus yards in the same game. Ficklin (63), Parker (58) and Nate Johnson (56) each tallied touchdown rushes of 50-plus yards.

Defensively, Utah recorded season highs in both sacks (7) and tackles for loss (13) while forcing 10 punts and seven three-and-outs. Colorado managed just 38 rushing yards on 38 attempts and was held to 13-of-30 passing on the night. The Utes held Colorado to just 3-of-16 on third downs and 0-of-2 on fourth down.

Johnathan Hall and Elijah Ellis led the way with five tackles and two TFL each, while Hall also led the way with a career-high two sacks. Tao Johnson nabbed his second interception of the season and Smith broke up two passes to go with a pair of tackles.

The Utes' 140 yards allowed are the fewest since holding Arizona State to 83 total yards in 2023. Colorado totaled 97 yards in the fourth quarter alone while Utah had most of its starters on the sideline.

The Utes used a stellar first half to jump out to a 43-0 lead. Utah put up 398 yards of offense in the first 30 minutes of play - 260 of which came on the ground - while holding the Buffaloes to negative 18 total yards and negative 41 yards rushing. The Utes' defense tallied five sacks, eight tackles for loss, an interception and a blocked punt in the opening half.

Utah had held Colorado to 23 passing yards at the end of the first half, while Ute punter Orion Phillips had thrown for 25 yards.

UP NEXT

Utah is back at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, for a matchup against No. 21 Cincinnati (7-1, 5-0 Big 12). Kickoff time will be determined on Sunday.

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