After two seasons that failed to meet expectations, the 2025 Utah football team is on a mission to reestablish itself as a national contender. That campaign begins on August 30, under the iconic backdrop of the Rose Bowl, where the Utes will face a similarly revamped UCLA program in a season-opener loaded with questions, potential and early implications for both teams.
Just a year removed from being picked to win the Big 12, Utah enters the new season with tempered outside expectations but no shortage of internal belief. Following a productive spring period filled with staff overhauls and offensive restructuring, head coach Kyle Whittingham and his staff are confident in the direction the program is heading.
Week 1 brings a UCLA team that is also under reconstruction. The Bruins stumbled to a 5–7 record in their first Big Ten campaign last year, plagued by a broken offense that averaged just 18.4 points per game and ranked near the bottom of the FBS in rushing. Defensively, the Bruins were strong against the run — ranking sixth nationally — but the rest of the unit failed to provide consistent support.
In response, first-year head coach DeShaun Foster hit the reset button. Gone are offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and several assistants. In are names like Tino Sunseri, formerly of Indiana, who helped the Hoosiers to a historic 10-win season and is known for his quarterback development. Sunseri now inherits former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a high-profile spring transfer who threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns last season.
While Iamaleava brings talent and SEC experience, he’s had minimal time with the Bruins’ system and roster. Chemistry and timing — especially with a rebuilt receiving corps — will be a key storyline heading into kickoff. Top receiver Logan Loya and leading rusher TJ Harden have moved on, while UCLA added former Utah pass-catcher Mikey Matthews and Cal transfer Jaivian Thomas to try and plug the holes.
For Utah, a similar transition is unfolding, particularly on offense. The Utes will start redshirt sophomore Devon Dampier as quarterback, a dynamic athlete who impressed in limited snaps last season. With a new offensive scheme and revamped staff, the Utes are leaning into speed, versatility and creativity to reignite a unit that underperformed in 2024.
Both programs are navigating significant personnel turnover, which makes this early-season clash both unpredictable and compelling. The spotlight will be on the quarterback duel — Iamaleava’s SEC pedigree versus Dampier’s explosiveness and potential. And while Utah may have the historical edge — having won six of the last seven meetings — no Week 1 outcome is guaranteed, especially with so many unknowns.
Beyond the on-field matchups, the setting adds another layer of intrigue. The Rose Bowl, steeped in tradition and beauty, offers a national platform for two programs seeking redemption. Utah fans are expected to travel well, as they did in their previous visits to Pasadena, bringing extra energy to a neutral-leaning environment.
According to ESPN’s SP+ rankings, Utah enters the season ranked 31st in the country with the 55th hardest schedule — favorable enough for a team with title aspirations, if it can take care of business early. A win over UCLA would provide a crucial launching pad.
UCLA, projected at just 5.5 wins this season, is desperate to show that the rebuild is already ahead of schedule. And for Foster, a win over a perennial Pac-12 powerhouse-turned-Big 12 contender like Utah would solidify belief in the new regime.
So as the sun sets over Pasadena and the 2025 season begins, expect fireworks, growing pains and the kind of raw, uncertain football that only Week 1 can provide.
And for Utah and UCLA, that journey starts now.
c.cowles@dailyutahchronicle.com
The post Utah Football Heads to the Rose Bowl to Open 2025 Season first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.