Utah Utes first-year coach Morgan Scalley leading with love - ESPN

SALT LAKE CITY — Every Monday during the University of Utah's team meetings, there's a new wrinkle to the Utes' film sessions.

The Utah staff shows «Culture Clips» from the previous game. The staff doesn't showcase circus catches or bone-crushing sacks, but rather the types of plays that offer a window into why No. 10 Utah has emerged as a prime College Football Playoff contender in Morgan Scalley's first year as head coach.

In a win over Kansas earlier this month, Scalley highlighted the giddiness of three key rotation wide receivers — Larry Simmons, Kyri Shoels and Creed Whittemore — celebrating wildly on the sideline when fellow receiver Ricky Johnson secured a 2-yard touchdown grab.

When defensive end Ethan Day holds the edge that sets up a Rabbit Evans sack against Arkansas, Day gets shouted out. When all five offensive linemen converge to pick up star quarterback Devon Dampier? That's one of Scalley's favorite scenes.

«I wish I had a still shot of it, just a picture of those guys pulling up the quarterback,» Scalley told ESPN in his office last week. «I'm just like, 'Dude, guys, this is it. This is team football. This is what wins championships.'»

With Utah (6-0) undefeated and facing its first ranked opponent Saturday when No. 14 Houston visits (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN), it offers an inflection point to highlight some culture clips from the rookie coach who typically chooses them.

Scalley took over after Kyle Whittingham's 21-year tenure ended following the 2025 regular season and immediately evolved the program through a simple philosophical shift. Scalley took every aspect of the generally successful Utah program — from schemes to operations to strength/nutrition — and focused on improvement. That's a tall task for