With 56 seconds left and the season hanging in the balance, Devon Dampier plunged into the end zone from a yard out—not just to win a game, but to keep Utah’s playoff dreams alive. The Utah Utes stunned the Kansas State Wildcats 51-47 on November 22, 2025, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, completing a fourth-quarter rally that felt more like a miracle than a strategy. The crowd of 51,444 erupted as Dampier crossed the goal line, his fourth touchdown of the night sealing a win that had looked impossible just minutes before.
When the Run Game Took Over
Kansas State came out like a freight train. Their offense didn’t just move the ball—it obliterated it. Running back Joe Jackson ran for 293 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown that flipped the script in the second quarter. By halftime, the Wildcats led 31-21, having amassed 272 rushing yards alone. Their total of 472 rushing yards shattered the school record, a brutal testament to their ground game’s dominance. Quarterback Avery Johnson added 72 more on the ground and 102 through the air, while safety VJ Payne led the defense with 10 tackles. Utah’s run defense? Outmatched. As Sports Illustrated noted at halftime: “Utes can’t stop run game: An inexplicable first half...”Utah’s offense, meanwhile, was scrambling. Dampier threw two touchdowns and ran for two, but the Utes were trailing by 17 with just over 10 minutes left in the third quarter. The stat sheet didn’t lie: Kansas State had 21 first downs to Utah’s 14, held the ball for over 30 minutes, and converted all three of their fourth-down attempts. Utah had only five penalties for 30 yards—clean, disciplined—but it wasn’t enough to slow the Wildcat steamroller.
The Turnaround: Clock, Courage, and a Kicker’s Nerve
Then came the fourth quarter. And then came Luis Rodriguez.At 8:51, with Utah down 38-35, Rodriguez nailed a 36-yard field goal after a 13-play, 59-yard drive that ate up 6:15 of clock. It wasn’t flashy, but it was the first crack in Kansas State’s armor. Utah’s defense, exhausted but determined, held on the next drive. Then came the offense’s masterpiece: a 14-play, 78-yard march that lasted 7:04, culminating in Dampier’s game-winning plunge with 56 seconds left.
“Dampier getting tackled at the three-yard line probably helped Utah win,” one YouTube analyst noted. “They burned clock before they scored.” And that’s exactly what happened. Utah didn’t just score—they controlled time, drained hope, and left Kansas State with no timeouts and no chance.
What This Means for the Big 12
The win improved Utah to 9-2 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12, putting them in direct contention for the conference championship game. With Oklahoma State and TCU also in the mix, Utah’s path to the title is narrow—but still open. A win next week against BYU could lock them in. More importantly, they’re still alive in the College Football Playoff conversation. One loss in the Big 12 Championship? Still viable. Two? Probably not.Kansas State, meanwhile, fell to 5-6. Their dream of bowl eligibility now hinges on beating Iowa State next week. They’ve got the talent—Jackson’s record-breaking day proves that—but they lack consistency. They led by 10 at halftime, led by three late in the third, and still lost. That’s not just bad luck. That’s a team that can’t close.
Final Moments, Lasting Impact
Before kickoff, Utah honored its senior class at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Dampier, a transfer from Arizona State, wasn’t one of them. But he played like a man determined to make his mark. Two passing touchdowns. Two rushing touchdowns. And the game-winner, the kind of moment that defines legacies.The Wildcats’ 472 rushing yards will go down in school history. But it’s Utah’s comeback—clutch, calm, calculated—that will be remembered. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t efficient. But it was real. And in college football, that’s often enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Devon Dampier’s performance impact Utah’s playoff chances?
Dampier’s four-touchdown performance—two passing, two rushing—was the catalyst for Utah’s comeback and kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive. With a 9-2 record and a 6-2 Big 12 mark, Utah now controls its destiny: a win over BYU next week likely secures a spot in the Big 12 Championship, where a victory would make them a serious playoff contender, especially if other top teams lose.
Why was Kansas State’s rushing record overshadowed by the loss?
Joe Jackson’s 293-yard day and Kansas State’s school-record 472 rushing yards were historic, but in college football, wins matter more than stats. The Wildcats led by 17 in the first half and still lost because they couldn’t stop Utah’s late-game drives, failed to convert defensive stops into points, and couldn’t hold a lead under pressure. Records don’t get you into bowl games—wins do.
What role did Luis Rodriguez’s field goal play in the comeback?
Rodriguez’s 36-yard field goal at 8:51 in the fourth quarter cut Kansas State’s lead to 38-35 and shifted momentum. More importantly, the 13-play, 6:15 drive that preceded it drained the clock and forced Kansas State to use their timeouts. That drive wasn’t just points—it was psychological warfare. It showed Utah could move the ball methodically, and it made the Wildcats’ defense question whether they could hold.
Did Utah’s penalty advantage make a difference?
Absolutely. Utah had just five penalties for 30 yards, compared to Kansas State’s 10 for 75. That’s 45 extra yards gifted to the Wildcats—many of them on critical third downs. Those penalties kept Utah’s drives alive and extended Kansas State’s possessions. In a game decided by seconds and yards, that discipline gave Utah a crucial edge when it mattered most.
What’s next for Utah and Kansas State?
Utah faces BYU in their final regular-season game on November 29. A win clinches a Big 12 Championship Game berth. Kansas State must beat Iowa State on the same day to become bowl-eligible—they’ve never missed a bowl since 2011. Both teams need wins, but only one has control over its postseason fate.
Why is this game considered one of the most dramatic of the 2025 season?
It combined record-breaking offense, a 20-point comeback, a last-second touchdown, and massive postseason implications—all in a single game. Few games this season had so many moving parts: a record-setting running back, a clutch quarterback, a kicker who delivered under pressure, and a defense that held when it counted. And it all happened in front of a sold-out stadium, with the Big 12 title on the line. That’s the stuff legends are made of.
