The Utah Utes, ranked No. 21 in the Football Bowl Subdivision, opened their season with an impressive 66-14 victory over the Idaho Vandals on September 4, 2023. The game, held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, was marked by Utah's offensive dominance and Idaho's struggles to keep pace.
The contest began with an early interception by Utah senior linebacker Trey Reynolds, who picked off Idaho quarterback Joshua Wood's pass on the third play from scrimmage. This pivotal moment set the tone for the game, leading to a touchdown just four plays later. The Utes quickly established a 7-0 lead, and Idaho would never again come within striking distance.
Idaho entered the matchup as significant underdogs, with FanDuel listing them as 34.5-point underdogs. The Vandals were unable to match the Utes' intensity, culminating in a lopsided final score that highlighted the talent gap between the two teams. Idaho head coach Thomas Ford Jr. acknowledged the disparity in skill level, stating, "That’s a Big 12 team, and they’re a ranked team in the top 25 in FBS for a reason. And that talent gap was definitely noticeable at the end of the game." Despite the loss, Ford expressed pride in his team's effort, noting, "I never thought the group stopped fighting."
Idaho's offense struggled throughout the game, with Wood completing only 9 of 27 passes for 111 yards, along with one interception. He did manage to lead the Vandals in rushing, scoring their only rushing touchdown on a 22-yard scramble. The Vandals' first score came from running back Hayden Kincheloe, who found the end zone with a 3-yard run, bringing the score to 17-7 in the second quarter. However, this was as close as Idaho would get.
Utah's offensive performance was nothing short of remarkable. The Utes outgained Idaho 633 yards to 225 and achieved 33 first downs compared to Idaho's 13. Utah's starting quarterback, senior Devon Dampier, threw for 176 yards and three touchdowns, while also contributing 31 rushing yards. Junior running back Wayshawn Parker had a standout game, scoring three touchdowns—two through the air and one on the ground—totaling 71 rushing yards and 23 receiving yards.
The Utes maintained their offensive pressure throughout the game, scoring 14 or more points in every quarter. Utah's backup quarterback, sophomore Byrd Ficklin, also made a significant impact, completing four of eight passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 70 rushing yards. Freshman running back LaMarcus Bell capped off the scoring with a 34-yard touchdown run in the final minute.
As the game progressed, Utah began substituting its starters, allowing their backups to gain valuable experience. This decision reflects the Utes' confidence as they look ahead to the rest of the season.
Idaho's next challenge will come against Lamar on September 12, 2023, at home in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. Coach Ford emphasized the importance of recovery and preparation, stating, "These extra two days will be huge. Getting us back to health will be huge — we had a couple of guys get some knickknack injuries, and I think getting those guys healthy and getting a jump start on our opponent is going to be exactly what we need to be successful when we get back to the Kibbie Dome on the 12th."
In summary, the Utah Utes demonstrated their status as a top-ranked team with a commanding performance against Idaho, setting a strong tone for their upcoming season.
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