Utah emerges as lone Big 12 unbeaten in CFP race after rallying past Houston

SALT LAKE CITY -- Consider the test passed. Barely.

Utah scored 21 second-half points and erased a double-digit deficit in its 21-13, comeback-win against Houston.

Held scoreless through the game's first 40 minutes, the Utes utilized the dazzling duo of quarterback Devon Dampier and tailback Wayshawn Parker to remain perfect. Ranked No. 9 in the US LBM Coaches Poll entering the game but without a win against a ranked opponent, Utah notched both in this game -- and positioned itself to make a massive leap in Sunday's rankings.

Three team in front of Utah -- No. 2 Brigham Young, No. 5 Texas Tech, No. 7 Mississippi -- all lost on Saturday, Oct. 24.

The Big 12 entered the day as the lone Power Four conference with multiple unbeaten teams.

As Saturday night creeped toward Sunday morning, only Utah remained unblemished -- and now 8-0 under first-year coach Morgan Scalley, who debuted atop the program with a bowl win to cap last season and stretched this undefeated start to 7-0.

Cincinnati had blown out Texas Tech in a midday affair and Central Florida knocked off BYU in double-overtime to leave the Utes in sole possession of first place in the Big 12 Conference.

Top-ranked Miami as well as No. 10 UCLA are the only teams left unscathed in addition to Utah.

Conner Weigman threw for 282 yards for the one-loss Cougars, who entered the game ranked 16^th and exited in a five-way tie for second place the Big 12 standings.

It was the Cougars’ defense, orchestrated by coordinator Austin Armstrong, that spurred the Cougars to a 3-0 lead at the break that extended to 10-0 midway through the third quarter.

A Rice-Eccles Stadium 100^th consecutive sell-out crowd saw Utah held scoreless through the first half for the first time in 25 games.

Seeking to extend their perfect start under first-year coach Morgan Scalley, the Utes eventually claimed a 14-13 lead in the early moments of the fourth quarter.

Riding the legs of quarterback Dampier, Utah uncorked a dizzying, five-play, 75-yard drive that Dampier capped when he raced 22 yards untouched into the south end zone.

It was the versatile Parker who then buoyed Utah into position for the lead. The transfer tailback had an acrobatic, over-the-shoulder catch in the end zone – that was wiped away because of an ineligible man downfield penalty.

So Dampier simply called Parker’s number two more times. It was Dampier’s pass to Parker that covered 13 yards to turn second-and-14 into third-and-1.

Donning dazzling neon-pink cleats, Parker took a direct snap on the next play, darted behind the right side of his line and through a gaping hole into the end zone.

Utah had amassed almost 200 yards’ offense by halftime, but Dampier was intercepted in the end zone. Dillon Curtis shanked a 34-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of the second quarter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Utah emerges as lone Big 12 unbeaten in CFP race after rallying past Houston