Utah emerges as lone Big 12 unbeaten in CFP race after rallying past Houston.
Utah · HoustonSALT LAKE CITY -- Consider the test passed. Utah scored 21 second-half points and erased a double-digit deficit in its 21-13, comeback-win against Houston.
Held scoreless through the game's first 40 minutes, the Utes utilized the dazzling duo of quarterback Devon Dampier and tailback Wayshawn Parker to remain perfect. Three team in front of Utah -- No. 2 Brigham Young, No. 5 Texas Tech, No. 7 Mississippi -- all lost on Saturday, Oct. 24.
As Saturday night creeped toward Sunday morning, only Utah remained unblemished -- and now 8-0 under first-year coach Morgan Scalley, who debuted atop the program with a bowl win to cap last season and stretched this undefeated start to 7-0. Cincinnati had blown out Texas Tech in a midday affair and Central Florida knocked off BYU in double-overtime to leave the Utes in sole possession of first place in the Big 12 Conference.
Top-ranked Miami as well as No. 10 UCLA are the only teams left unscathed in addition to Utah. Conner Weigman threw for 282 yards for the one-loss Cougars, who entered the game ranked 16 th and exited in a five-way tie for second place the Big 12 standings.
KEY POINTS
- Utah emerges as lone Big 12 unbeaten in CFP race after rallying past Houston.
- No. 9 Utah remained one of three unbeatens in college football's Bowl Subdivision after its come-from-behind defeat of No. 16 Houston.
- Ranked No. 9 in the US LBM Coaches Poll entering the game but without a win against a ranked opponent, Utah notched both in this game -- and positioned itself to make a massive leap in Sunday's rankings.
- The Big 12 entered the day as the lone Power Four conference with multiple unbeaten teams.