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PROVO — Basketball season tips off Wednesday when BYU hosts its first exhibition game against NAIA member Life Pacific, but it's never too early to think about football in the newly expanded Big 12 Conference.
The Cougars got a peek at their first four years in the 16-team conference that will include Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah when the Big 12 announced its football scheduling matrix Wednesday afternoon.
No game dates or times were announced Wednesday, but each team's home-away allotment was revealed, including a four-road, five-home game split for BYU in the nine-game conference schedule.
The difference is likely due to the Cougars' nonconference slate, which will feature two road games against SMU and Wyoming after the home opener against FCS foe Southern Illinois. During the four-year cycle, each team will play one another at least once home and away, with some matchups occurring over three seasons and others over four.
The conference took care to assure that no 2023 game will be repeated in 2024 at the same site, while four in-state rivalries were protected and assured to be played every year: BYU-Utah, Baylor-TCU, Kansas-Kansas State and Arizona-Arizona State.
"It's exciting to see more clearly what our future schedule in the Big 12 will look like," BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said. "The conference has done a nice job of preserving historic matchups and rivalries along with a component of competitive balance. I can't wait to welcome all Big 12 opponents into LaVell Edwards Stadium and show the strength of Cougar Nation, at home and on the road."
𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝟏𝟐 𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒. pic.twitter.com/TuSvkXOI0m
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) November 1, 2023
In addition to the Utes, BYU's most common opponents will include Arizona, Arizona State, Kansas and UCF in three of the four seasons, with two games against each of the other Big 12 teams.
In its first year in the newly expanded Big 12 (or 2024), BYU will face Arizona State, Baylor, UCF and Utah on the road, while hosting Arizona, Houston, Oklahoma State, Kansas and Kansas State.
Here's a breakdown of each of the following seasons, with currently scheduled nonconference matchups:
2025 season
Home games
- Southern Utah
- Utah
- TCU
- West Virginia
- UCF
Road games
- East Carolina
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Texas Tech
- Iowa State
- Cincinnati
2026 season
Home games
- Utah Tech
- South Florida
- Arizona
- Arizona State
- Baylor
- Iowa State
- Cincinnati
Away games
- Utah
- TCU
- Kansas
- UCF
2027 season
Home games
- Weber State
- SMU
- Utah
- Colorado
- Texas Tech
- Kansas
Away games
- Arizona State
- Houston
- Oklahoma State
- Kansas State
- West Virginia
The four-year priority model was developed with an emphasis on geography, historic matchups and rivalries, as well as competitive balance, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said during the league's Big 12 Tipoff media days in Kansas City. The league also attempted to balance annual travel by distance and time zones.
"As we look towards the future of this conference, we are thrilled to introduce the first football scheduling matrix for the new-look Big 12," Yormark added Wednesday in a statement. "I'm grateful to our membership for their support throughout the scheduling process.
"In this model, competitive balance and student-athlete wellness was prioritized. Rivalries will be protected and new matchups will be introduced — the excitement and parity this conference is known for will continue for years to come."
