Honestly, if you've been following the Runnin' Utes lately, you know the vibe is... complicated. We aren't exactly in the "glory days" right now, but the utah men's basketball schedule for the 2025-26 season is basically a gauntlet that will either forge this team into something real or, well, let's just say it's going to be a long winter.
This isn't the Pac-12 anymore. Welcome to the Big 12, where every Tuesday night feels like a heavyweight title fight and there are no "gimme" games left on the calendar.
Surviving the Big 12 Grind
The move to the Big 12 changed everything about how we look at the utah men's basketball schedule. Gone are the days of cruising through a couple of easy road trips in the Northwest. Now? You're looking at a schedule where you have to fly into places like Lawrence or Houston and try not to get run off the floor.
Right now, the Utes are sitting at 8-9 overall and a pretty painful 0-4 in conference play after that loss to Texas Tech on January 14. It’s tough. The reality is that the Big 12 is currently home to some of the best teams in the country—Arizona is ranked #1, Houston is sitting in the top 10, and even our neighbors down south, BYU, are ranked #9.
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The Immediate Future: Can They Snap the Streak?
If you're looking for the next few games to circle on your calendar, here is what the path looks like right now:
- January 17: vs. TCU. This is a noon tip-off at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. It’s basically a must-win at this point. TCU is 11-6, and if the Utes can't defend the home court here, the 0-4 start could turn into a tailspin.
- January 20: at Kansas State. A 6:00 PM start in Manhattan. The Octagon of Doom is never a fun place to play when you’re struggling.
- January 24: at BYU. The Holy War on the hardwood. This one is at the Marriott Center at 2:30 PM. Let's be real—the atmosphere is going to be toxic, and the Utes are going to need a miracle to pull one out in Provo against a top-10 Cougar squad.
What’s Different This Year?
Everything feels a bit new. After Craig Smith was let go in February 2025, the program shifted gears. We've got Alex Jensen at the helm now, a legendary Ute himself, trying to bring that alma mater pride back to the bench. But he’s dealing with a roster that has seen a massive overhaul.
We lost Gabe Madsen and Branden Carlson to graduation/eligibility. That is a ton of scoring and rim protection gone in one swoop. To fill those holes, Jensen went heavy into the portal. We’ve seen guys like Don McHenry and Terrence Brown step up. McHenry, the transfer from Western Kentucky, has been a bright spot, recently dropping 29 points against Mississippi State and 27 against Eastern Washington. He can score, but he needs help.
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The utah men's basketball schedule doesn't care about "transition years." It keeps coming. After the BYU game, the Utes return home for Oklahoma State on January 31 before hitting a February stretch that includes games against Kansas (Feb 7) and Houston (Feb 10). That is a brutal back-to-back.
The Home-and-Home Rivalries
The Big 12 gave us three specific opponents that we play twice this year: Arizona, Arizona State, and BYU. It's great for the fans because the geography makes sense and the rivalries are already baked in.
However, it's a double-edged sword. Arizona already came into the Huntsman Center and put up 97 points on us. Playing them again in Tucson later this season is a daunting prospect. The goal for Jensen has to be finding a way to split these series, or at least show that the gap between Utah and the top of the Big 12 isn't a canyon.
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Breaking Down the Non-Conference Results
Looking back at how we got here, the non-conference part of the utah men's basketball schedule was a mixed bag. There were some high notes—the win over #RV Ole Miss (75-74) in late November showed that this team has some heart. They also handled business against teams like Central Arkansas and Queens.
But the losses to Mississippi State and Grand Canyon showed the cracks. Specifically, the defense has been leaky. When you give up 92 to Cal Poly at home (even if it was a win), you know the Big 12 guards are going to have a field day.
Key Stats to Watch
If you’re betting on these games or just trying to understand why the Utes are struggling, look at the rebounding and turnovers. Terrence Brown has been solid as a playmaker, but the team often gets out-muscled in the paint. James Okonkwo and Babacar Faye have to be more physical if the Utes want to survive the physical play of teams like Houston and Iowa State later in February.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're planning on catching a game or following the team through this rough patch, here is how to stay on top of the utah men's basketball schedule:
- Check the Broadcasts: Most Big 12 games are on ESPN+ or the big networks (TNT, CBS Sports). The TCU game on the 17th is on TNT, which is a rare national spotlight for the team right now.
- Monitor the Injury Report: With a thin bench, any injury to McHenry or Brown basically ends the Utes' chances of staying competitive in conference play.
- Huntsman Center Energy: If you’re in Salt Lake City, the team desperately needs home-court advantage. The attendance has been spotty, but the Big 12 schedule brings in big-name opponents that should hopefully fill those seats.
- Keep an eye on the 2026 Class: Since this is a rebuilding year, watching how the freshmen like Kendyl Sanders develop is just as important as the final score.
The road ahead is steep. The utah men's basketball schedule is designed to test your depth and your coaching. For Alex Jensen, the rest of this January stretch will define whether his first year is a learning experience or a total reset. It’s tough to watch your team sit at the bottom of the standings, but in the Big 12, things can turn around with one big upset. Let’s see if they’ve got one in them.