Jan 03, 2026
3 min read
Las Vegas - Nebraska couldn't get off to a strong start as No.15 Utah posted a 44-22 victory over Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl SRS Division on New Year's Eve.
(7-6) scored on their first two possessions and led 14-7 after one quarter. Utah took control behind quarterback Devon Dampier, who accounted for more than 450 yards of total offense and five touchdowns.
Dampier completed 19 of 31 passes for 310 yards and two scores while also rushing for 148 yards and three TDs as Utah finished the season 11-2.
For Nebraska, redshirt freshman Mekhi Nelson made his first career start replacing All-American Emmett Johnson.Nelson rushed 12 times for a career-high 88 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown run.He added 48 receiving yards on three catches.
True freshman Isaiah Moses rushed for 32 yards and caught four passes for 38 yards.
True freshman quarterback TJ Latif completed 15 of 28 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown and another score for the Huskers.
Nebraska struck first on its opening drives of 8 yards and 82 yards, and Nelson entered the end zone 38 yards, which accounted for 58 yards on the ground on NU's first drive.
Utah responded immediately, tying the game on Dampier's two-yard touchdown run.
Nebraska regained its lead 14–7 with a 75-yard drive in 12 plays capped by an eight-yard reception by Jacory Barney Jr. The drive included runs of 24- and 16-yards by Nelson and Isaiah Mozzi and a 4th-and-1 conversion by Quinten Ives.
The Utes tied the game on a nine-play, 74-yard drive.The Big Red forced a 3rd-and-20 after a targeting penalty. But Utah scored on the next play. Meanwhile, Dampier found JJ Buchanan on a 20-yard pass.
A 10-play, 50-yard scoring drive ended with a 28-yard field goal by Dillon Curtis.
Dampier scored his second touchdown of the day to cap a 10-play, 74-yard drive to extend Utah's lead to 24-14 at halftime.
The Utes opened the second half with a 10-yard, 75-yard drive to make it 31-14.He was just one third down on the drive and averaged 7.5 yards per play.Dampier added his third touchdown of the day to cap off a nine-play, 51-yard drive that extended Utah's lead to 38-14.
Dampier's third touchdown pass of the day, a 17-yarder to Dallen Bentley, capped a 95-yard drive.Bently totaled 106 yards on six catches as Utah was outgained 535-343.
They made it 44-22 with 1:55 left on Lateef's Seven-Yard Touchdown run and capped a 13-game drive, before LateEF Find Queen Claret for the latest boundary.
