Utah Beats Arizona 40-39 on Dampier's 70-Yard Strike to Whittemore in Tucson

No. 2 Utah survived a one-point shootout at No. 23 Arizona 40-39 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, as quarterback Devon Dampier hit Creed Whittemore for a 70-yard touchdown with 2:48 left at Casino Del Sol Stadium in Tucson. The strike answered an Arizona go-ahead score just 34 seconds earlier and kept the Utes unbeaten at 10-0, their best start since the 13-0 season of 2008.

Key Points

• No. 2 Utah beat No. 23 Arizona 40-39 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Casino Del Sol Stadium in Tucson, surviving a one-point shootout to stay unbeaten.
• Arizona went ahead 39-33 with 3:22 left in the fourth quarter on Noah Fifita's 10-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Mizell plus Fifita's two-point conversion run.
• Utah answered 34 seconds later when quarterback Devon Dampier hit Creed Whittemore for a 70-yard touchdown at 2:48, with Dillon Curtis's extra point making it 40-39.
• Arizona's final drive stalled when Fifita's fourth-and-2 pass fell incomplete at the Arizona 33 with 2:02 left, and Utah kneeled out the clock.
• Utah improved to 10-0 and 7-0 in the Big 12, No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings, while Arizona fell to 7-3 and 4-3 in conference play.

What Happened

Arizona struck first and set the tone early. The Wildcats led 14-3 after Kedrick Reescano's 5-yard touchdown run and a 53-yard field goal. Utah steadied itself behind its quarterback, with Dampier scoring on rushing touchdowns of 14 and 18 yards in the first half to drag the Utes back into a game that never settled down.

The fourth quarter delivered the drama. Arizona went ahead 39-33 with 3:22 left when Fifita found Isaiah Mizell for a 10-yard touchdown and then ran in the two-point conversion himself. The lead lasted 34 seconds. On Utah's next snap, Dampier dropped back and hit Whittemore in stride for a 70-yard touchdown at 2:48, and Curtis's extra point put the Utes in front 40-39.

Arizona had one more chance. Fifita drove the Wildcats into Utah territory, but the drive stalled when his fourth-and-2 pass fell incomplete at the Arizona 33 with 2:02 remaining. Utah took over, kneeled out the clock, and escaped Tucson with its unbeaten season intact.

Background and Context

Utah arrived in Tucson as the No. 2 team in the College Football Playoff rankings and the clear favourite, but Arizona was no pushover. The Wildcats were ranked No. 23 at 7-2, with one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the country in Fifita, who entered the game as the active FBS leader in passing yards with 11,977 and touchdowns with 94, making his 44th consecutive start.

The Utes had already survived their biggest tests of the season. They beat No. 8 BYU 28-20 in the Holy War rivalry game on November 7 and routed Cincinnati 49-25 on October 31. At 10-0 and 7-0 in the Big 12, Utah is chasing its best start since the 13-0 season of 2008.

Utah Beats Arizona 40-39: Dampier's 70-Yard Strike

Dampier was the story of the game. The Utah quarterback scored twice on the ground in the first half, on runs of 14 and 18 yards, and then produced the play of the season when his team needed it most. Trailing 39-33 with under three minutes left, he found Whittemore deep for a 70-yard touchdown that flipped the game in a single snap.

The extra point from Curtis proved just as important. In a one-point game, that kick was the difference between a 40-39 win and overtime. Utah's composure in the final minutes — the deep strike, the kick, then the kneel-downs to close it out — was the difference between an unbeaten season and a first loss.

Reactions

The result landed as a statement of resilience for Utah. The Utes trailed early, trailed late, and still found a way to win on the road against a ranked opponent. Unbeaten teams are defined by games like this one: not the comfortable wins, but the nights when everything goes wrong and the quarterback still makes the throw.

For Arizona, the defeat was a heartbreaker. The Wildcats led 14-3 early, led 39-33 with 3:22 left, and had Fifita driving for a winner in the final two minutes. They did almost everything needed to beat the No. 2 team in the country. Instead they fell to 7-3, and the 70-yard touchdown will be the play their season is remembered by unless they answer it in the weeks ahead.

Why It Matters

The win matters most for what it keeps alive. At 10-0 and 7-0 in the Big 12, Utah stays No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings and in control of its own path to the Big 12 championship game and the playoff. A loss in Tucson would have dropped the Utes in the rankings and handed the conference race to their rivals. Now they control their own fate. Related coverage: Utah Beats BYU 28-20 in Holy War as Bachmeier Throws Four Interceptions.

It also matters because of how Utah won. The Utes were outplayed for long stretches, fell behind twice, and still won on the road against a ranked team with a veteran quarterback. That is the profile of a playoff team. For Arizona, the loss dents the Wildcats' Big 12 title hopes at 4-3 in the league, though at 7-3 they remain a strong team with plenty left to play for.

What Happens Next

Utah heads into the final weeks of the regular season unbeaten, with the Big 12 championship game and a playoff place in its own hands. The Utes will need the same composure they showed in Tucson, because every opponent left on the schedule will now treat them as the team to beat. Also read: BYU Beats Baylor 28-7 as Bear Bachmeier Scores Four Touchdowns in Provo.

Arizona regroups at 7-3, still bowl-bound and still dangerous. The Wildcats showed they can go toe to toe with the best team in the conference, and Fifita's experience gives them a chance in every game they play. The challenge now is turning a near-miss against Utah into momentum rather than letting it become the moment the season slipped away.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Utah vs Arizona?
No. 2 Utah beat No. 23 Arizona 40-39 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Casino Del Sol Stadium in Tucson.

Who scored the winning touchdown for Utah?
Quarterback Devon Dampier hit Creed Whittemore for a 70-yard touchdown with 2:48 left, and Dillon Curtis's extra point made it 40-39. Dampier also scored on rushing touchdowns of 14 and 18 yards in the first half.

How did Arizona take the lead late in the game?
Noah Fifita threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Mizell and then ran in the two-point conversion, putting Arizona ahead 39-33 with 3:22 remaining in the fourth quarter.

What are the teams' records after the game?
Utah improved to 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the Big 12, its best start since the 13-0 season of 2008. Arizona fell to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in Big 12 play.

What happened on Arizona's final drive?
Fifita's fourth-and-2 pass fell incomplete at the Arizona 33 with 2:02 left, and Utah kneeled out the clock.