The rust stayed for a while.

Utah quarterback Cam Rising went back into his first snap after 605 days out and threw an incomplete pass while taking a hard hit.

After that it was game on.

The seventh-year senior capped that first drive since tearing his ACL in January 2023 by throwing a 64-yard touchdown to a wide-open Dijon Stanley. From there, Thursday’s season opener at Rice-Eccles Stadium was all about the Utes’ veteran leader flexing old muscle.

Rising distributed the ball across the field and found his old trusted target, tight end Brant Kuithe, for three more scores.

By halftime, Rising’s day was over and so was the game. He finished with a career-high five touchdowns and 254 yards on 10-of-15 passing.

The Utes went 49-0 beat Southern Utah with their long-haired leader.

“I thought it was the old Cam,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “I think he was sharp.”

Things could have been a lot worse for the T-Birds.

The nation’s No. 12 team scored on all five drives in the first half. Perhaps the only real blunder by the Utah starters came when Rising missed wide receiver Mycah Pittman sprinting up the middle for what could have been a sure touchdown.

The Utes had 339 yards passing at halftime. Rising’s five touchdowns were the most by a Utah quarterback in a half since Brian Johnson in 2008. And on the night that Utah welcomed Hall of Famer Alex Smith into the school’s new “Ring of Honor,” Rising passed Smith on Utah’s all-time touchdown list, moving him to 50 for his career.

Stanley was Utah’s leading receiver, with three catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

True freshman Isaac Wilson made his debut after Rising’s day was over. He finished 7-of-11 for 74 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed for 21 yards. His lone touchdown pass was to former BYU basketball player Caleb Lohner.

In the second half, running back Mike Mitchell scored his first touchdown as a Ute.

“We did what we had to do,” Whittingham said. “We just had some talented guys playing there. It’s good to get that under control.”

Utah plays at home next week against Baylor, a team from the Big 12. This game does not count toward the conference schedule.