No. 20 Utah gets late-night showdown with Arkansas
The 20th-ranked Utah football team returns to Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday night against Arkansas. Kickoff between the Utes (1-0) and Razorbacks (1-0), likely in front of a 97th consecutive sellout, is set for 8:15 p.m. MDT.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN with Justin Kutcher, Roddy Jones and Quint Kessenich.
UTAH
Quarterback Devon Dampier picked up right where he left off in the Las Vegas Bowl, throwing for three scores on just 18 attempts in the season opener, a 66-14 win over Idaho. His three touchdown passes are tied for second-most in the conference through the first week of games.
Wayshawn Parker had a strong season debut for the Utes with three touchdowns (2 receiving, 1 rush) in the blowout win over Idaho. His pair of receiving touchdowns are part of a four-way tie for the most in the conference, while the three total scores are tied for second in the Big 12.
The Utes have played nine games all-time against the SEC and hold a 2-7 overall record, but Utah defeated Florida 24-11 in the most recent matchup (2023) in Salt Lake City and famously defeated Nick Saban’s Alabama squad, 31-17, in the 2009 Sugar Bowl to cap an undefeated 13-0 season.
Utah has now won 11 of its last 12 season openers after the win over Idaho, with the lone loss coming in a 29-26 defeat in The Swamp against Florida on Sept. 3, 2022.
ARKANSAS
Arkansas and first-year head coach Ryan Silverfield opened the season with a 31-14 win over North Alabama.
Quarterback KJ Jackson leads the Arkansas offense this season after winning the quarterback job during fall camp. He appeared in five games, including one start, last year. Jackson started under center in the season-opening win against North Alabama, completing 24 of 35 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Sutton Smith rushed 15 times for 36 yards (2.4 avg.) and added four catches for 43 yards in Arkansas’ opener. The Memphis transfer ran for 669 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 carries last season.
Wide receiver Chris Marshall, a transfer from Boise State, was Arkansas’ leading receiver in the season-opening win, catching seven passes for 79 yards. He’s expected to be the Razorbacks’ top pass catcher after he had 30 receptions for 574 yards and two TDs with the Broncos last season.