Early Wednesday morning, BYU’s 2026 football schedule was finalized and released on social media.
The Cougars recently announced an agreement with Notre Dame for a home-and-home series, beginning in 2026 in Provo.
The schedule is now set. Here it is.
Sat, Sep. 5 vs. Utah Tech (FCS)
Sat, Sep. 12 vs. Arizona
Sat, Sep. 19 at Colorado State
Sep. 26- BYE
Sat, Oct. 3 at TCU
Sat, Oct. 10 vs. Iowa State
Sat, Oct. 17 vs. Notre Dame
Sat, Oct. 24 @ UCF
Sat, Oct
31 vs. Arizona State
Sat, Nov. 7 at Utah
Sat, Nov. 14 vs. Baylor
Sat, Nov. 21, at Kansas
Sat, Nov. 28 vs. Cincinnati
What jumps out immediately is that BYU has seven home games, which is a large advantage. When BYU lost their game with Cal for the 2026 game, many thought the Cougars would be put in a tough spot and unable to get another home game. Credit to athletic director Brian Santiago for working out a deal with Notre Dame to come to Provo. That is something the Irish previously seemed hesitant to do.
BYU opens the season with an in-state FCS program in Utah Tech. They played each other in November of 2022, with the Cougars winning 52-26.
Surprisingly, the Cougars start their Big 12 slate early, in Week 2.
For a third straight season, the Cougars will travel to non-power conference opponent in Colorado State at Fort Collins.
Unlike last year, the Cougars only get one bye week, the last weekend of September. However, the tradeoff may be in BYU getting that seventh home game.
Another surprising development is BYU playing on the first Saturday of October. Typically, the Cougars have either played on a weeknight or had a bye, so that the school, along with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, could observe its semi-annual General Conference meetings. However, the Church recently announced there will no longer be Saturday evening sessions of the conference. Perhaps that is why the Cougars were assigned a Saturday game in Fort Worth against TCU.
That will be the first time BYU has played on General Conference Saturday since 2005.
Of course, most eyes will immediately go to when BYU will play Utah. Once again, the Cougars and Utes will not play the last week of the year. The Holy War will be played in 2026 at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 7, four weeks before the season ends.
While BYU doesn’t have an extra bye week, it’s worth noting that the Cougars leave the state of Utah only once between October 4 and November 20, with that trip being to Orlando. The Cougars get a six week period where they only leave Utah once.
Overall, it feels like a favorable schedule. With all the talent Kalani Sitake and company have coming back, the Cougars should feel good about making a run at a Big 12 title.
