Let’s get spicy: 5 bold predictions for Utah football in 2026

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The calendar has finally, mercifully, turned over to August, which means we’re ever closer to football season.

Sure, summer is fun — and so is the sun.

It’s no football season, though.

The cool, crisp air on a Saturday morning in the fall, the smell of freshly cut grass, the long lines for the restroom (and food, and everything else) on the concourse at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

It takes you back — and you can’t wait for those few fall months to return again.

Dream on!

Utah kicks off fall camp Monday, and with that, the news cycle will fire up in anticipation of the upcoming season.

Then will come that long, long, looooooooooooong four weeks of camp where the only news is usually bad (i.e. injury) news before the season actually begins.

With that in mind, I decided to have a little fun — and copy off the work of my BYU-covering colleague, Jackson Payne — and make some bold predictions for Utah football this season.

Are some of them meant to be silly? Yes.

Are some of them serious? Also yes.

Are they entertaining? I have no idea — I’m sarcastic by nature, so if you enjoy that, you might find this funny.

No matter what, hopefully I gave you some enjoyable reading (or engagement time, as we call it in the journalism biz).

With that, let’s get into these ever-so-serious (but some of these are legit) five BOLD predictions for the 2026 season I made from the safe confines of my couch.

Wayshawn Parker will do more than hit the century mark

At Big 12 football media days in July, Wayshawn Parker expressed his disappointment for missing out last year on a 1,000-yard rushing season by just 19 yards.

That personal goal is squarely on his to-do list in 2026. “This year, I want to go all gas, no brakes,” Parker said.

Utah RB Wayshawn Parker has his sights set on a 1,000-yard season

“This year, I want to go all gas, no brakes. So anybody that I can take with me, I’m going to take with me on that journey. That’s going to be the whole Utah football team. We’re going to do it as a team.” pic.twitter.com/DkzMWohUFK

— Brandon Judd (@brandonljudd) July 15, 2026

All gas, no brakes is a pretty solid description of his running style — have you seen him when he gets to the open field?

Well, I predict he’ll not just hit that 1,000-yard mark, but Parker will find his way into the Utah record book, too.

He came so agonizingly close to the century mark despite only getting 149 carries last year, as Parker didn’t fully wrangle away control of RB1 status until late October.

Give him a full season of being the workhorse — even with a new offensive coordinator in Kevin McGiven and a new starting five on the offense line — and Parker will have a record year.

My guess: he’ll take a shot at breaking the school’s season per-carry average.

In his first season in Salt Lake City, Parker showed just how explosive he can be when he gets into the open field. His 6.58 yards-per-carry average last season was sixth nationally, and it was also fourth-best for a single season in Utah history, not far behind Joe Williams’ 6.7 average in 2016.

Yes, circumstances surrounding Parker have changed, but that athleticism hasn’t — and he’s got the kind of explosiveness to be one of the country’s top running backs.

Also, don’t worry too much about that offensive front.

Even though Utah must replace its entire offensive line, four of those projected starters are seniors, and there’s five-star talent Kelvin Obot in town, too — and he was coached in high school by new Utes offensive line coach Jordan Gross.

Parker can take advantage of that.

The rivalry matchup will be for a spot in Big 12 championship

Is this really that bold of a take in 2026?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Both sides of that argument could be legit.

Utah and BYU are expected to be in the chase to become the Big 12’s King of the Hill, and though defending champion Texas Tech is the favorite, the Utes and Cougars can make just as good of a case as anyone else in the league at a title run.

Both of these rival teams have a solid base of return guys, potential all-conference performers at quarterback and even at their question mark positions, there is some promising depth and talent.

Write it in pen: That matchup on Nov. 7 will determine who plays Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game this year.

Just for fun’s sake, let’s hope the rivalry game comes down to one play, tight end/defensive tackle Semi Tualanga (pictured above) with the ball in his hands and a group of Cougars trying to keep him out of the end zone.

That’s entertainment.

Why am I so confident either BYU or Utah make it to the Big 12 championship, you ask?

It’s simple, really. Look at the conference schedule this year — neither BYU nor Utah play the Red Raiders in the regular season, and both the Cougars and Utes have some pretty favorable scheduling in league play.

Utah will still have to hit the road to face TCU and Arizona after playing BYU, while the Cougars travel to face the Horned Frogs early and host Arizona in Week 2.

Other than that, though, the path to Arlington for one team looks like it will go through Salt Lake City.

OK, now that we have the softball question equivalent versions of a “bold” projection out of the way, let’s have some more fun.

Kash Dillon and Ethan Day will battle to be the next Mayor of Sack Lake City

Arguably one of the best traditions for the most successful era of Utah football is deeming the Utes’ sack leader the Mayor of Sack Lake City.

It makes you think back to the days of Nate Orchard and his school-record 18.5 sacks in 2014 — and also reminds you of his acting chops we’ve all seen here in Utah for a window company.

So, who will get to claim the mantle this year?

OK, I’m not going to name my pick. Sorry, I got cold feet in the bold prediction category.

Let’s instead announce a duel for the crown — between junior Kash Dillon of Corner Canyon High lore and incoming edge rush transfer Ethan Day from North Texas.

Who will lead the Utes’ defensive front?

I have no idea, but keeping tabs on the tally is going to be fun. And there’s totally a 1,000% chance another challenger, like Lance Holtzclaw, could be the Mayor.

I mean, Holtzclaw has already got politicking down — he’s a shoe-in after that appearance in front of the Senate.

Just wait: this duo is going to have Utah fans saying, “John Henry who?” — though admittedly, that guy was, and is, awesome and on his way to being a top draft pick in 2027.

Just cuz I’m having fun doesn’t mean I need to disrespect last year’s Mayor and his 11.5 sacks.

Devon Dampier and Heisman contender will be uttered together at some point this year

It’s not wise to underestimate Devon Dampier.

The 5-foot-11 master of deception and Utah’s electrifying dual-threat quarterback is going into 2026 as one of the Big 12’s best signal callers.

Back in early June, I even dubbed him as the best QB in the league — starting the bold predictions early, I know.

Who’s stopping us from taking this projection train off the tracks, though?

Nobody, that’s who!

Dampier is so shifty and quick — a true menace for opposing defenses.

“I want to give the vibe to my team that you see the way I work, you see that I want success for everybody. Why not come follow?”

Devon Dampier and Morgan Scalley discuss Utah's star QB and what he's working on going into 2026 pic.twitter.com/KZZ4yBNTt9

— Brandon Judd (@brandonljudd) July 16, 2026

And with a group of wide receivers that may very well be the best collectively that Utah has had in years, watch out.

Dampier accounted for more than 3,300 total yards and 34 touchdowns last season. If he bests those numbers in 2026, there’s a direct line for Dampier to push himself right into the Heisman conversation, for a time at least.

The first half of Utah’s schedule sets up well for Dampier to rack up some impressive numbers, and even the chance to do it against an SEC opponent.

Detractors might say, in true “Rudy” fashion, “He’s so little!” Pay them no attention — just ask Kyler Murray how that turned out.

I’m not guaranteeing Dampier gets that invitation to New York City at the end of the regular season for the Heisman ceremony.

But I’d rather not bet against Spida and his Spidey senses, either.

Morgan Scalley and his new coaching staff will earn double-digit wins in their first season

“Hey, you remember that time that Morgan Scalley took over for his mentor and led the Utes to the College Football Playoff in Year 1?”

No, those weren’t the exact words from that classic scene in “The Waterboy,” but this bold take has the makings for some Bourbon Bowl magic.

Scalley and his new coaching staff are stepping into a favorable position in their first year.

The Utes lost some top-end talent to the transfer portal — and to He Who Shall Not Be Named in Big Ten country — but there’s also a talented group back in Salt Lake City ready to prove they can build on the 2025 season.

Oh, and that aforementioned favorable schedule?

This has all the makings for Scalley and Co. to win 10 or more games, all while transitioning from one era to the next.

Just imagine it: Utah snaps its streak against BYU, beats Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game, and heads back to the Rose Bowl, this time in a CFP quarterfinal matchup.

Then, with all the Bad Moon Rising energy the Utes can muster, they avenge two previous losses in the iconic stadium.

It all sounds like a bold pipe dream — but it’s summer, and that’s when the best pipe dreams live for college football fans.

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