All released scheduling dates are on Saturdays with the caveat that those games could wind up being scheduled on either Friday or other so-called ‘Special dates.’ BYU and the Big 12 Conference will retain broadcast relationships with ESPN, FOX and TNT Sport with the specific broadcast carriers and game times released leading up to and throughout the season.

From BYU’s press release:

Home & Away

BYU’s 2026 slate includes seven home games, including welcoming Notre Dame to Provo on Oct. 17 for a mid-season nonconference matchup in LaVell Edwards Stadium. The home schedule kicks off the season with the opener against in-state foe Utah Tech (Sept. 5) followed by an early season Big 12 matchup hosting Arizona (Sept. 12). Other featured home games include dates with Iowa State (Oct. 10), Arizona State (Oct. 31), Baylor (Nov. 14) and Cincinnati (Nov. 28) in the regular-season finale. 

The Cougars will play five away contests in 2026, facing Colorado State, (Sept. 19), TCU (Oct. 3), UCF (Oct. 24), Utah (Nov. 7) and Kansas (Nov. 21) on the road.  The 2026 season is based on a 13 week calendar with one open week during the 12-game schedule. BYU’s bye week takes place at the end of September with no game scheduled on Sept. 26. 

Strong Slate

Three of BYU’s 2026 opponents finished the past season ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 with Notre Dame at No. 10, Utah at No. 14 and TCU at No. 25, while Arizona received votes listed 30th just outside the poll.

Overall, the Cougars will face seven teams that qualified for a bowl game in 2025, with Arizona, Arizona State, Cincinnati, TCU and Utah all coming off bowl appearances while Notre Dame and Iowa State both qualifyied but didn’t accept bowl invitations. Utah (11-2) and Notre Dame (10-2) are both coming off double-digit victory seasons while Arizona and TCU each won nine games and Arizona State and Iowa State both achieve eight wins last year. 

For the third straight season, the Cougars face 10 power-conference level opponents in its 12-game regular season. The nonconference slate for BYU includes independent power Notre Dame, Colorado State from the Pac-12 Conference and FCS opponent Utah Tech of the Big Sky Conference. Utah Tech and Colorado State are both entering their new leagues in 2026.  

BYU’s 11 FBS opponents enter the 2026 season after posting a combined overall record of 84-54 last season to boast a .609 winning percentage. 

League Breakdowns

BYU will play nine conference games in the Big 12, with five at LaVell Edwards Stadium and four on the road in 2026.

Six Big 12 opponents repeat on the league slate from last season, while three conference schools are new to BYU’s schedule in 2026. The Cougars get back-to-back games against Arizona, Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU, UCF and Utah, while Arizona State, Baylor and Kansas are the Big 12 teams on the schedule that BYU didn’t see in 2025.

This year, BYU does not face Colorado, Kansas State, Houston, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech or West Virgnia in the regular season. 

The Big 12 Championship game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, launching a new Friday-Saturday rotation that enhances national exposure.