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The University of Utah Athletics
Dampier Added to Manning Award Finalists
1/8/2026 9:05 AM | Football
Utah QB one of five new additions for national award
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah quarterback Devon Dampier has been added as a finalist for the Manning Award after his outstanding performance in the Las Vegas Bowl, the award presented by the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced on Thursday.
Dampier is one of 15 finalists from across the country, presented to the top quarterback in college football. The Manning Award is the only quarterback award that takes candidates' bowl and playoff performances into consideration in balloting. See the full list of finalists for the award, here.
On the way to earning Las Vegas Bowl MVP honors, Dampier rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns while completing 19-of-31 passes for 310 yards and two more scores as No. 15 Utah defeated Nebraska, 44-22. It marked his second game this season with five total touchdowns as well as his second game with 200-plus passing yards and 100-plus rushing yards.
Dampier also became the first quarterback in the history of the Las Vegas Bowl to rush for more than 100 yards and tied the Utah program record for rushing scores in a bowl game. His 458 yards of total offense were the most by a Ute in a bowl game, breaking the previous record of 408 set by Alex Smith in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.
Dampier earned Offensive Newcomer of the Year and Third Team All-Conference honors in the Big 12 after throwing for 2,180 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushing for 687 yards and seven scores during the regular season.
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Dampier is one of 15 finalists from across the country, presented to the top quarterback in college football. The Manning Award is the only quarterback award that takes candidates' bowl and playoff performances into consideration in balloting. See the full list of finalists for the award, here.
On the way to earning Las Vegas Bowl MVP honors, Dampier rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns while completing 19-of-31 passes for 310 yards and two more scores as No. 15 Utah defeated Nebraska, 44-22. It marked his second game this season with five total touchdowns as well as his second game with 200-plus passing yards and 100-plus rushing yards.
Dampier also became the first quarterback in the history of the Las Vegas Bowl to rush for more than 100 yards and tied the Utah program record for rushing scores in a bowl game. His 458 yards of total offense were the most by a Ute in a bowl game, breaking the previous record of 408 set by Alex Smith in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.
Dampier earned Offensive Newcomer of the Year and Third Team All-Conference honors in the Big 12 after throwing for 2,180 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushing for 687 yards and seven scores during the regular season.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
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